National Spelling Bee Planning To Hold A World Bee

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) -- The National Spelling Bee is planning a world bee.

Bee officials on Tuesday announced plans for a competition that will crown a team of world champion spellers of the English language, starting as early as December 2013.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee already has an international flavor. Spellers from several countries participate in the annual contest, held in the Washington, D.C., area. A girl from Jamaica won in 1998. This year's champion will be crowned Thursday.

Preliminary plans call for the world bee to feature teams of three spellers from competing countries, chosen through national bees.

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