The Competition is on!

By Dale Cox, WorldSkills International

Day Two, October 6, 2011, of WoldSkills London 2011 has been jam packed with VIP visitors, high school students from across London, industry representatives and the general public out to cheer for their favourite Competitors and teams.  Prime Minister David Cameron visited the site and was impressed by the magnitude of the event and the extraordinary of excellence on display:

"I’m absolutely delighted that London is hosting the biggest WorldSkills Competition in its sixty year history. Standing here is so inspiring. To see almost 1,000 young people from more than 50 countries competing to be the best of the best. Not just in one Skill, but in more than 40 Skills from Robotics, to Web Design, from cookery to Landscape Gardening.”

"It’s great too for me that the UK is able to show off the skills and diversity of our own young people. What they have all achieved here sets a fantastic example for other young people."

Also visiting the event was The Princess Royal, Princess Anne. The Princess toured the site, stopping to chat with Competitors and exhibitors. The “Have a Go” interactive demonstrations proved to be as popular with the Princess Royal as they have been with every visitor to the Competition. Demonstrating she was not afraid to get her hands a little dirty, Princess Anne had a go at bricklaying!

Meanwhile, competitions are in full swing with all skills underway. Touring the site the focus and determination of Competitors is impressive, especially under the scrutiny not just of judges, but the huge numbers of visitors fascinated by the excellence clearly on display. WorldSkills London 2011 is proving to be yet another fantastic success at promoting globally the world class competency standards in the industrial and service sectors of the global economy.