6 February 2025
The WorldSkills flag symbolizes the strength of WorldSkills Competitions
As China celebrates renewal and new life with its Spring Festival, we reflect on the WorldSkills flag handover at the Closing Ceremony of WorldSkills Lyon 2024. It marked the beginning of the journey to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 and the continued growth of the WorldSkills movement.
It was an exciting moment at the WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Closing Ceremony, as the WorldSkills flag was officially handed over to representatives from WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 and WorldSkills China.
France was represented by the French Minister of Labour, Health, and Solidarity, the Vice-President of the Métropole of Lyon, and the President of WorldSkills France. The Chinese delegation included the Minister of Human Resources and Social Security (Chair of WorldSkills China), the Mayor of Shanghai, and the Vice Mayor of Shanghai.
WorldSkills Champions from France and China stood as representatives for all WorldSkills Champions. From France, there was a 2015 São Paulo silver medalist in Pâtisserie and Confectionery, and a silver medalist in Joinery from WorldSkills Leipzig 2013. From China, a 2017 Abu Dhabi gold medalist in Autobody Repair joined a WorldSkills Champions Trust representative and Medallion for Excellence winner in Restaurant Service to accept the ceremonial handover.
The WorldSkills flag was carried into OL Stadium by a WorldSkills Lyon 2024 volunteer, representing how WorldSkills volunteers are the backbone of WorldSkills Competitions. The dedication of Experts, Skill Management Teams, Team Leaders, WorldSkills Champions Trust representatives, Board members, and many more who volunteer at local and national levels all help to move the WorldSkills movement forward.
France (left to right): Catherine Vautrin, Minister of Labour, Health and Solidarity, Hélène Duvivier-Dromain, Vice President, Métropole of Lyon, Florence Poivey, President WorldSkills France, Mathieu Aubert, WorldSkills Champion, Florence Lesage, WorldSkills Champion
As the flag changed hands, the OL Stadium in Lyon was filled with cheers of pride, marking the moment that the journey to Shanghai officially began. This long-established tradition in the Closing Ceremony is steeped in meaning.
First and foremost, it is a moment for the WorldSkills community to look to the future. As one Competition draws to a close, the flag handover builds excitement and anticipation for the next. It also inspires optimism that even more young people will get their chance to compete at an international level.
The exchange also signifies the growing momentum behind the skills movement and the continued expansion of the WorldSkills community, now made up of 89 Members and 28 Global Partners. The flag unites them all and shows that they are all equal in their contribution to skills excellence.
The handover also represents the continuity of the WorldSkills mission. While WorldSkills Lyon 2024 gave much to celebrate, there is still more to aspire to. WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 will be an important opportunity to raise skills even higher up the global agenda and encourage more people to invest in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
The exchange of the WorldSkills flag marked the official start of the countdown to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, but preparations have been underway for more than five years after WorldSkills Shanghai 2021 was postponed due to the global pandemic.
China (left to right): Wang Xiaoping, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, Gong Zheng, Mayor of Shanghai, Chen Jie, Vice Mayor of Shanghai, Yang Shanwei, WorldSkills Champion, Chen Yifan, WorldSkills Champion
WorldSkills China is poised to build upon its original vision, ensuring Shanghai is an inspiring stage for the world’s largest skills competition.
David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International, says, “Our Competitions are known across the world for setting the benchmark for skills excellence. Our planning with WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 is well underway, underpinned with excitement and confidence about the quality of the event that is to come”.
WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 will take place from 22 to 27 September 2026 at Shanghai’s National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC). For more information, visit the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 website.