Competition countdown – it’s all in the preparation.

By Mark Callaghan, WorldSkills Australia

In just a few days time, runners in the men’s 400m final at the London 2012 Olympics will round the last bend and get their first glimpse of the finish line – something that they would have been training many years for. Using this as an analogy, preparations for the 2012 WorldSkills Australia National Competition are at a similar stage. Everyone involved in the National Competition are rounding that final bend and we are all pushing for the finish line.

WorldSkills Australia (WSA) staff and the dedicated team of WSA volunteers (judges, site crew, etc.) are all working hard to put the final plans in place to deliver a competition that will showcase the best of Australian skills.

WSA regional volunteers are finalising the massive logistical exercise of getting teams, tools and equipment to Sydney. More importantly though, competitors from all around the country are finalising their preparations, honing their skills and readying themselves for what will be their greatest challenge to date. They will first view the competition venue on Wednesday the 29th of August at Competitor Familiarisation and they will be confronted with a venue transformed from a bare concrete space to 25,000sqm of activity – something that will hopefully remain etched in their minds forever.

Recently we passed our 50 days to go milestone and we used this important date to launch our new look website. If you haven’t already done so, take a moment to visit the new site. It is your best source of information for the 2012 WSA National Competition as well as all information regarding WorldSkills Australia. And while we hope to see as many people as possible at the Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney Olympic Park on 30/31 August and 1 September to cheer our skill champions on, we understand that not everyone will be able to attend. If you cannot make the journey to Homebush you will be able to follow all of the action via the WorldSkills Australia website – and like those at the venue, you will be able to cheer all competitors as they strive for their own finish line.