President of WorldSkills commemorates the first WorldSkills Competition held in Germany

In recognition of the first WorldSkills Competition hosted in Germany in 1961, Champions alongside representatives from industry, education, and government celebrated the 55th anniversary in Duisburg. The event took place at the former company Rheinstahl grounds, where the competition took place.

Simon Bartley, President of WorldSkills International participated in the anniversary celebration noted, “About 193 Competitors participated in 1961, in WorldSkills Leipzig 2013 there were 999 Competitors - what a growth that has been. A growth that some people in 1961 would have said, would be impossible. The competition then was only within Europe, with about 15 countries. Whereas in São Paulo last year, we had 1,200 young people from 65 countries competing in 45 different disciplines.“

"WorldSkills Competitions - whether back then in Duisburg or today - are more than just competitions in the form of vocational-athletic comparisons of performance. The competitions unfold a distinct appeal on all social and business levels. They are a strong instrument to compare educational systems on national and international levels," said Hubert Romer, CEO of WorldSkills Germany and President of WorldSkills Europe.

"For young professionals the preparation for the competition and of course the participation offer challenge, adventure, happiness, acknowledgement and benefit, all in one. They develop resistance to stress, decisiveness, character, gain qualities and skills for their professional biography. WorldSkills is a career booster. And the sending companies profit from their Champions as they are role models in school, generate greater regional recognition, and let the firm become a popular employer,” said Mr Romer.

Simon Bartley underlined the importance of young people's present and future, "We create skilled individuals who have a meaning in their life. They go to work, they earn money, they pay taxes. Governments invest in hospitals, in infrastructure, in schools. All of those things are absolute critical for world peace. If you look at the countries where there is most internal violence, the one thing that always stands out is youth unemployment. You cannot have a society in which young people have no future. And what we do, what you do, what WorldSkills does is to try. and give a future for young people."

At the ceremony Bartley also addressed German WorldSkills Experts, "The real importance of what you are teaching Competitor after Competitor in so many different areas, is that those young people will go on whether they have a gold medal or came in last in a competition - they are already Champions in Germany, they are already Champions in their schools, their companies. They are passing the message on about the importance of vocational skills, of technical, of craft skills. They are the ones who are becoming the missionaries."

"I strongly believe that the youth of the world is the future. I strongly believe that the work that you do improves the future. And I know that I live in a world where the future is assured because there are people like you improving the lives of young people so that the future will be a good one for all of us,” noted Mr Bartley.

The 1961 competition hosted in Duisburg, Germany was the 10th WorldSkills Competition. Click here for a full list of past and upcoming WorldSkills Competitions.