Team Sweden preparing for WorldSkills Calgary 2009

By Youth Skills Sweden

The Swedish team, nine girls and 22 boys, are preparing for WorldSkills Calgary 2009. Last weekend they had their last team meeting at Runö Conference Center outside Stockholm.

”This was the last of a total of three team meetings. The agenda proposed media training and the Competitors were interviewed and trained to speak in front of the camera. Shire Raghe, reporter and former VJ at MTV was there to coach them together with media trainers", says Anneli Palm, Swedish Team Leader.

The Competitors also received practical information about WordSkills Calgary 2009, tried on their working clothes, whihc they will wear when competing and carried out teambuilding activities such as sailing in the Swedish Archipelago. At previous team meetings the team has been skiing and have competed in pentathlon.

”We know from former Competitions that it is important for the team to get to know each other. The Competitions are often very stressful and a strong team and support from other team members and coaches, makes it a lot easier when it is getting rough," says Anneli Palm.

Competitions in skills are a quite new phenomenon in Sweden. Several countries attending WorldSkills Calgary 2009 in September have been participating since the 50s but 1995 was the first year Sweden was represented.

The Swedish team 2009 was elected at the national skills competition in May 2008. The national competition takes place every second year and about 300 youth compete in 40 skills throughout three hectic days.

Since May, some members of the team have been participating in Nordic skills competitions and some advanced to EuroSkills in Rotterdam.

“Rotterdam was a great success; we won 16 gold, two silver and one bronze medal. In Calgary it is time to defend the Swedish colors internationally and we are of course heading for the winners stand," says Anneli Palm.

For more information, please visit: www.youthskillssweden.com.