President of France Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday officially opened the 47th WorldSkills Competition, or WorldSkills Lyon 2024 that has attracted 1400 competitors from nearly 70 countries and regions.
The gathering in Lyon on Day-2 is spotlighting the crucial role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in our rapidly evolving world.
The world’s biggest skills competition spans seven sector villages covering 140,000m² – the same as 26 football pitches.
Each one of the 59 Official Skills and 3 Exhibition Skills show the pivotal role of TVET in addressing global challenges and driving innovation.
WorldSkills Conference 2024 on Tuesday opened under the banner “Moving TVET to the top of the global agenda.”
This two-day event has pooled governments, policymakers, industry leaders, education providers, and young professionals to explore how TVET systems need to evolve to equip young people with the right skills to meet a fast-changing, uncertain future.
Through their participation in WorldSkills Lyon 2024 and by attending WorldSkills Conference 2024, WorldSkills several teams are hoping to gain more valuable insights as well as exposure to emerging technologies.
China, a regular participant in the biennial competition, is making its seventh appearance this year, fielding 68 competitors with an average age of 22. China has the highest number of competition categories among all participating countries.
Max Roche, president of WorldSkills Lyon 2024, highlighted the four core values of WorldSkills —excellence, generosity, openness, and unity.
He said, “We believe that everything is possible with skills. This competition is all about sharing — sharing skills, knowledge, happiness, and success. We want to welcome everyone, no matter where they come from.”
Running through Sept 15, this event, often referred to as the “Olympics of Skills”, is the world’s largest vocational education and skills competition, showcasing excellence across a wide range of trades.
The opening ceremony of WorldSkills Lyon 2024 was held at the LDLC Arena.
According to organisers, the event has attracted 250,000 participants, including those attending the competition, ceremonies, and city-wide activities for WorldSkills Lyon 2024.
Shanghai will host the 48th WorldSkills Competition in 2026.
