International journalists gather for WorldSkills Lyon 2024 inaugural press conference

The official WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Press Conference took place this afternoon at Place des Lumières, in the heart of Eurexpo Lyon, the home of WorldSkills Lyon 2024. The Press Conference follows an exclusive media tour held on Monday, which gave journalists behind-the-scenes access to Eurexpo Lyon and the workshops where 1,400 Champions will be competing.

Over 1,000 accredited journalists are expected to join WorldSkills Lyon 2024. They play a crucial role in raising awareness of skills and their power to transform lives, communities, industries, and economies. The WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Press Conference provided media with in-depth knowledge of the Competition, its global significance, and how it fits into the WorldSkills global movement.

Representatives from WorldSkills, WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Competition Organizer, WorldSkills France, spoke at the event, as well as two WorldSkills Champions.

Chris Humphries, President of WorldSkills, opened with a warm welcome and a clear message. He said, “Our aim is a simple one - to change the world for the better through skills. Skills empower young people, reduce inequity, make industry more competitive, and improve sustainability. We are a global movement making changes in skills development every day, in every part of the world.”

He continued, “Over this week, it is going to be wonderful to share the stories of our young Competitors. They are national heroes and extraordinary role models. Their skills will help us solve our most complex and urgent challenges, and it is no exaggeration to say that we need young people like them more than ever before.”

Shweta Ratanpura, WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for Asia, is one of those young people. She drew on her own experience to show why skills need greater profile, saying, “In my country, India, there are many skilled people and yet only a few professions are presented as possible career choices. WorldSkills helps create respect for skills. If it wasn’t for such programmes, I wouldn’t be here speaking to you today. That is why we need to move TVET to the top of the global agenda.”

Hosts WorldSkills France and the WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Organizer took the opportunity to showcase its commitment and vision for hosting the Competition. Max Roche, President of the WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Organizing Committee said, "I am very proud today to welcome you here, to this meeting place for skills excellence, passion, and innovation. We believe we have built a unique and incomparable experience and are delighted to share it with you all.”

The Press Conference concluded with questions from the floor, covering areas including equitable access to skills, skills development in Africa, and skills for recovery and growth. With the Press Conference complete, journalists are now primed to share the most powerful and compelling stories behind WorldSkills Lyon 2024 and demonstrate why investing in skills is investing in a stronger, more secure, more sustainable future.

Discover our media resources for WorldSkills Lyon 2024, including press kits and press releases.

WorldSkills Lyon 2024

WorldSkills Lyon 2024, 10 to 15 September, is the world’s largest international skills competition, featuring 1,400 Competitors from almost 70 countries and regions. The 47th WorldSkills Competition showcases excellence in young skilled talent, while also bringing industry, education, and government leaders together to move skills to the top of the global agenda. WorldSkills is highlighting the critical role skills play in addressing global challenges, boosting economies and industries, and promoting excellence.