Excitement, determination, and nerves – how WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 Competitors are feeling on Day One

Just hours into their WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 experience, young people from across the world whose talents are being placed centre-stage at the world championship of skills are already relishing the challenge.

Around 1,300 Competitors from 60 WorldSkills Member countries and regions are participating in the 44th edition of the WorldSkills Competition, which is taking place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 15-18 October.

Across 51 categories under six overarching skills sectors, young participants have dreams of succeeding and even taking home a medal – but whatever the outcome, they already know they will be taking away something special and unforgettable from their time in the United Arab Emirates.

Speaking on day one of the Competition, Karer Dilsher Dhaliwal, of India, a Competitor  Restaurant Service said, “It is going great so far - I have completed a few tasks so far, including boxing food, food carving and champagne service, and it all went well."

“I wasn’t nervous during the tasks but afterwards, when I had time to think, I was. Of course, I want to finish this Competition with a medal. I don’t want to go back home empty handed.”

Arnold Kuurklaid, of Estonia, is competing in Mechatronics, and said, “this Competition is different than anything I have ever done before."

“There is so much going on – the event is huge and I just hope I can get myself to concentrate and do well. What I hope to take away from all this is knowledge and the skills to have a career in Mechatronics, which I find so interesting."

Among the Competitors in the Industrial Control Skill is 19-year-old Phillipp Winterscheid, of Germany, who said he found his initial task – building an electrical circuit using simulation software – “a little nerve-wracking”. But he added “I hope to take away new skills from the Competition – and hopefully one of the top three medals.”

WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 represents the first time Palestine has taken part in a WorldSkills Competition, and among those travelling from the Middle Eastern country to the capital of the UAE is Ibrahim Qawasma, a Competitor in Graphic Design Technology.

“I felt some stress at first,” he said, “but after the briefing by the Team Leaders, I felt good. The first task went well and now I feel more confident.”

More than 100,000 visitors from across the UAE and around the world are expected to attend WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017.

Abu Dhabi was selected as host city in 2013, with the Competition being awarded to EmiratesSkills as part of ACTVET.