Börse Express – From Aarhus via Windhoek to Gmünd: The professional world championships in Salzburg are so international
97 specialists from 36 nations carry WorldSkills global radiance. Fans from all parts of the world are there, 11,000 on one day of the competition alone.
More than 7,000 kilometers separate Windhoek from Feldbach. However, such distances become insignificant during the professional world championships in Salzburg: Because at the exhibition center in the city of Mozart, there are only a few meters between the Namibian capital and the eastern Styrian municipality. Or hear it differently: only the jurors stand between the building contractor Morenga Gerry, who is starting for Namibia, and the Austrian World Cup participant Kilian Lupinski from Feldbach.
Pictures from the competitions (Credit: Skills Austria/ Florian Wieser) in the Salzburg region:
The two are examples of the international flair at the exhibition center: the 97 international participants from 36 nations – for example from Chile, South Korea, Mongolia, the United Arab Emirates, China, South Africa or Kazakhstan – brought their delegations, families and even fan clubs to Austria . “It’s amazing that Morenga is allowed to present itself here on the world stage. We are convinced that he will learn a great deal and bring this know-how back to Africa,” explains WorldSkills fan Muvatera Ndjoze Siririka, who made the long journey from Namibia to Salzburg for the World Championships.
From Aarhus to Salzburg
Jesper Andersen and his wife Mia also covered 1,264 kilometers tonight: The two traveled to Salzburg from near the Danish city of Aarhus to keep their fingers crossed for their son Jan Aggerholm Andersen. Together with a work colleague and a friend of Jan’s, they watch the 20-year-old work on a shiny Mercedes truck. The construction and agricultural machinery mechanic works for Zeppelin Denmark and is fighting for gold, silver or bronze in Hall 8 of the Salzburg Exhibition Center. “We are very proud of our son that he is measuring himself against the best in the world. That is an extraordinary achievement and is also being achieved in Denmark – a lot of media are reporting about him,” the parents are happy. Jan’s work colleague Mikki Nygaard believes his friend is capable of everything: “I know how he works and what he can do – there’s definitely a medal in there for him.”
Danish bricklayer dreams of World Cup gold
Compatriot Gry Astrup Hansen is also one of the medal favorites. The 19-year-old bricklayer from Ringkøbing competes in the building construction competition and on the first day yesterday put hundreds of bricks into a visually perfect masonry with the AT lettering highlighted. Right now she’s busy cutting building blocks for her next project. Every move is watched by a Danish trio: The three supporters wear black jackets with “Team Gry Astrup” printed on the back. There are several small Danish flags in their backpacks.
From Gmuend to Salzburg
One hall further, Thomas Reif and Michael Krauskopf from Gmünd wave Austrian flags to cheer on their colleagues from Leyrer + Graf, Jonas Schulner and Oliver Waily: The two Lower Austrian World Cup starters are currently erecting a reinforcement cage over the formwork wall that was set up yesterday. “In terms of the time factor, you are on the right track. However, accuracy and precision are crucial. How exactly they act is difficult to judge from here,” says Reif. Krauskopf, who has known the Austrian World Cup duo for many years as an apprentice trainer, explains: “Jonas and Oliver catapult local know-how into the world. We also notice this because delegations from Hungary, China and Denmark want to find out more about our type of specialist training. Our dual training is a prime example worldwide.”
A total of 21,000 fans already
Yesterday (10,000 fans) and today (11,000 fans) 21,000 people – from different parts of the world – visited the WorldSkills area, which was held in parallel with the Career Information Fair (BIM) in the Salzburg Exhibition Center: On the final day of the competition, Saturday, access is also between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. free of charge and possible without prior registration. However, the World Cup competitions gradually end at 12 noon. Whoever wins medals will be announced on Sunday during the medal ceremony (from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., here in the live stream) announced.
Strong medal record
To date, Red-White-Red has been able to compete nine times at this professional world championship: With five gold medals and two silver and bronze medals each, as well as 17 “Medaillons for Excellence” (awarded for particularly good performance after the podium), Austria is in the EU -Comparison – before the World Championship competitions in the city of Mozart – sensational in second place. In the history of the professional world championships, red-white-red has been able to celebrate a total of 86 gold, 68 silver and 73 bronze medals to date. (PWK490/HSP)
Pictures from the international fans (Source: Skills Austria)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/skillsaustria/52522887303/
Caption: Work colleague Mikki Mygaard, parents Jesper and Mia Andersen and friend Rasmus Abjldgaard (from left) from Aarhus keep their fingers crossed for Jan Aggerholm Andersen in the construction and agricultural machinery technology competition
https://www.flickr.com/photos/skillsaustria/52521875817/
Caption: Muvatera Ndjoze Siririka is upset with building builder Morenga Gerry from Windhoek, Namibia
https://www.flickr.com/photos/skillsaustria/52522817880/
Caption: The Danish bricklayer Gry Astrup Hansen has a small fan club from home with her
https://www.flickr.com/photos/skillsaustria/52521875852/
Caption: The Lower Austrian concrete workers Jonas Schulner and Oliver Waily are cheered on by their work colleagues Michael Krauskopf and Thomas Reif (Leyrer + Graf).
More information about the professional competitions: www.skillsaustria.at