Started six times, won 111 medals: Austria is the most successful nation at European professional championships. This year Graz can prove itself as the perfect organizer.

Vienna (OTS) – The organizers from Styria have been working towards this moment for six years: On Wednesday, the starting signal for the first European Championship of “Young Professionals” on Austrian soil will be given. The site at the Schwarzl leisure center is already ready for final acceptance.

The expectations are high, because Austria has a track record to defend. 197 participants have won 96 medals in six EuroSkills participations since 2008, 45 of them in gold in the individual evaluation. Until 2014, medals were also awarded in the team classification. Taking this into account, the Austrians achieved a total of 111 medals – as well as 33 “Medallions for Excellence”, which are awarded for particularly good performance.

That makes red-white-red the most successful participation in the European professional championships so far.

numbers, data, facts

The EuroSkills European Professional Championships were held six times – three times (2016 in Gothenburg, 2014 in Lille and 2012 in Spa) Austria was in first place in the medal table.

In all other attempts, Austria landed in second place: 2008 in Rotterdam, 2010 in Lisbon – and at the last European championship in Budapest. The local team won 21 medals there.

The bottom line is that Red-White-Red is the most successful EuroSkills nation, well ahead of Finland, the Netherlands and Germany.

Success as an incentive

Austria also wants to build on these extraordinary performances as the host country: “Over the past six years we have always stuck to our dream of European professional championships in Styria. This week, for our efforts and a lot of ambition, we will be able to host the European Championship of Skilled Workers on Austrian soil for the first time in history. The sensational achievements of our participants serve as an incentive for us to create European championship competitive conditions as a host as well, ”explains EuroSkills Supervisory Board Chairman Josef Herk.

“The high level of our specialist training is recognized internationally. Rightly so: The red-white-red medal balance at EuroSkills is an impressive testimony, ”says Harald Mahrer, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce. “Team Austria is also well prepared and highly motivated for EuroSkills 2021. Because these successes would not be possible without the commitment of our 54 participants. You are the perfect role model for young people, how far you can go in professional life with talent, passion and discipline. ”

Austrians among the best of the best

In 2014 and 2016 the title “Best of Europe” even went to Austria: The system electrician and European champion Oliver Anibas achieved the highest points among the participants of all nations at EuroSkills Lille 2016 and thus took the overall victory.

In 2016, the European champion Lisa Janisch (painter in Gothenburg) achieved the highest number of points in the competition. “A lot went together in this week of competition. Nevertheless, it was the result of years of training and targeted preparation, ”says the Styrian looking back.

This meticulousness is also a merit of trainers: their commitment is reflected in other statistics from a red-white-red perspective – especially in the field of sanitary and heating technology: Austria won gold every time in six participations. Most recently by the Tyrolean Florian Schwarzenauer in Budapest.

Upper Austria as the most successful federal state

Incidentally, the internal evaluation goes to Upper Austria: The state won ten gold, ten silver and five bronze medals. In addition, Upper Austria was able to take seven “Medallions for Excellence” from European professional championships.

At WorldSkills, the world championships for professions in which Austria has been participating since 1961, Vorarlberg (20 gold, 14 silver, 9 bronze, 31 “Medallions for Excellence”) is one step ahead. With 14 gold medals and three “Medallions for Excellence”, painter is the most successful Austrian profession at professional world championships.

First participants come

At the current EuroSkills, which will open on Wednesday, September 22nd, at the Messe Congress Graz, 54 participants from Austria will be taking part in a total of 45 professional categories. Never in the history of World or EuroSkills have they been more.

In total, the field of participants amounts to 400 players from 22 nations, including the host nations Thailand, Albania and the United Arab Emirates. Already today, Monday, the first participants will arrive in Graz: “We are looking forward to welcoming the international specialists to Graz, to being able to host the EM – and thus an important sign of the importance of professional training throughout Europe to be able to bet ”, emphasizes EuroSkills initiator Herk.

In any case, the competition area is perfectly groomed. This evening, on September 20, the final acceptance will be carried out by the so-called chief experts. “Nothing stands in the way of the unique festival of professional diversity and potential for European youth,” said Herk and Mahrer happily. (PWK 432 / HSP)

Inquiries & contact:

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T 0590 900 – 4462
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Angelika Ledineg
Managing directors
T: +43 (0) 316 601-660
Phone: +43 (0) 664 81 79 387
angelika.ledineg@eurokills2021.at