6 November 2024
The world’s largest skills competition in numbers
We look back on the spirit of excellence, innovation, and global cooperation that defined WorldSkills Lyon 2024 and capture the scale of the event.
A global gathering of talent
For four intensive days, 1,333 young skilled people from 66 countries and regions took to the global stage to demonstrate their exceptional talents at WorldSkills Competition 2024. Supported by 1,220 Experts, these Champions transformed the venue, Eurexpo Lyon, into a vibrant display of talent, dedication, and passion.
The event’s reach was truly global. Over 140,000 visitors descended on Eurexpo from over 90 countries. It is estimated that 250,000 people experienced the power of skills across the city of Lyon and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Capturing the moment
Over 1,000 reporters, photographers, and videographers from around the world attended WorldSkills Lyon 2024 to share stories of their national Champions and convey the spirit of skills excellence at the Competition.
The event was a feast for the eyes. Nearly 60,000 photos were taken over the course of the event, preserving countless moments of skill, determination, and triumph. The highlights of the event were also captured in over 20 hours of live streaming and broadcast footage available to watch online.
The skills community was kept up to date, round the clock, with news and views from WorldSkills Competition 2024 and WorldSkills Conference 2024 via over 40 articles and more than 300 social media posts from WorldSkills International that were viewed more than 3 million times.
Stand-out moments from the Competition floor
WorldSkills Lyon 2024 was a testament to the power of diversity. The Competition saw participants from all walks of life, and a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and skill sets.
The youngest Competitor was just 13 years old, representing Hong Kong, China in Autonomous Mobile Robotics. The largest team came from China, with an impressive 68 Competitors participating in all of the 59 Official Skills.
The WorldSkills community also welcomed new Members. WorldSkills Ethiopia, WorldSkills Nigeria, and WorldSkills DRCongo were formally ratified as Members at WorldSkills General Assembly 2024.
A moment for the medal-winners
WorldSkills Lyon 2024 featured 62 skill competitions, including 59 Official Skills and 3 Exhibition Skills, covering a wide range of industries and disciplines.
As the event reached its finale at the Closing Ceremony, 753 medals were awarded in total, including:
- 89 gold medals
- 71 silver medals
- 67 bronze medals
- 455 Medallions for Excellence
- 71 Best of Nation
The prestigious Albert Vidal Award, given to the top-performing Champion, was awarded to Junwei Lu and Huixuan Xie from China, who competed as a team in Industry 4.0.
Spotlight on gender equality in skills
WorldSkills Lyon 2024 was a platform for gender equality in skills. The event showcased why the skills community needs to break the bias.
Some of the most gender-equal skill competitions included:
- Water Technology: A 50–50 split (4 females, 4 males)
- Painting and Decorating: 52%-48% (12 females, 11 males)
- Restaurant Service: 53%-47% (19 females, 17 males)
- Bakery: 46%-54% (11 females, 13 males)
Ceremonies to remember
The Opening and Closing Ceremonies were spectacles in their own right, marking the beginning and end of this remarkable event. The Opening Ceremony, held at LDLC Arena, was at full capacity with 12,000 guests attending. The breathtaking Closing Ceremony was attended by an incredible 25,000 people filling the seats of the OL Stadium. So far, almost 150,000 people around the world have watched the coverage of both Ceremonies.
Incredible infrastructure
The physical footprint of the event was vast. Eurexpo itself covered 140,000m2 – the same as 26 football pitches. The seven halls housed 59 Official Skills and 3 Exhibition Skills, along with 51 Try-a-Skills. Thousands of tools and machines filled the workshops, many of which are now being rehoused or repurposed in TVET colleges or local communities.
The cascade effect?
While we can count the medals, the photos, the articles, and the social media impressions, the true legacy of WorldSkills Lyon 2024 is yet to be measured. The connections made, the skills shared, and the inspiration kindled will continue to shape the skills community for years to come.