23 August 2019
WorldSkills Kazan 2019: Day 1 of Competition begins!
Years of preparation and training came to fruition today when the first day of competition commenced for the 1,300 Competitors of the 45th WorldSkills Competition.
They started their skills journey nearly two years ago with regional and national skills competitions in their own countries and regions and have travelled to Russia to compete against their peers in 56 skills areas spread across the 58 hectares of the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Centre.
The skill competitions include a diverse collection of skills ranging from Cooking and Aircraft Maintenance, to Water Technology and Hotel Reception.
Livestreaming of the Competition and WorldSkills Conference 2019 is being watched by viewers around the world through the WorldSkills YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/WorldSkillsTV.
Many visitors to the site took advantage of the guided excursions, while others took their time meandering through the clusters and halls observing the Competitors in progress.
Some of the most visually beautiful categories included Patisserie and Confectionery, Hairdressing, and Floristry. One of the most popular skill areas on the first day was Restaurant Service, where a selection of guests, volunteers, and team officials were given the opportunity to be served a variety of food and beverages by the Competitors.
There was a large number of school students who visited Kazan Expo today and they were rewarded with a host of information about vocational skills and career options for their future. They particularly enjoyed the opportunity to try their hand at the various skills within the special Try-a-Skill zones. Activities included master classes, presentations, or demonstrations.
The Competitions run for a further three days with the Medalists to be announced at the Closing Ceremony on 27 August 2019, at the Kazan Arena Stadium.