Ignoring the noise: What it’s like competing at the ‘vocational skills Olympics’ in Shanghai

Shanghai hosts the 48th WorldSkills competition, a global event showcasing vocational skills across various sectors. One thousand four hundred youth representing over seventy countries compete in sixty-four different skills, from transport and logistics to personal services. Competitors, aged between 16 and 25, undergo rigorous testing, often working for seven hours a day, under intense pressure and distractions.

The event is held in the National Exhibition and Convention Center, a scale that is similar to fifteen football fields. The venue features realistic sets of restaurants, hotel receptions, and clinic rooms where competitors demonstrate their skills.

Cybersecurity competitors, such as Shum Hoe Yeong and Eugene Yang, face off in a test that is as much a challenge as a competition. The questions are difficult, and competitors are expected to tune out the constant chatter from the audience.

Singapore's participants, including Lim Jia Zhen and Aidan Wong, face unique challenges. Fashion technology competitor Lim Jia Zhen has to create a rare design on a sewing machine, while aircraft maintenance competitor Aidan Wong must repair a dent in a plane within seven hours. They must remain alert with limited breaks, relying on smaller meals and protein for concentration.

Despite the pressure, many competitors, including Jia Zhen and Eugene, find the experience fulfilling and a chance to learn from the best. For Aidan, it's about the opportunity to learn from the best of each nation, rather than the medals.