The Sydney Olympics may be kicking off on Friday, but there's another Olympics which celebrates a different range of skills.

The next World Skills Competition, which takes place in Seoul next year, will see young people from all over the world competing in a more unusual set of disciplines, including welding, floristry, restaurant service and bricklaying.

The competition is held every two years in one of the 35 World Skills member countries. Those under the age of 22 are tested in 40 occupational skills to compete for gold, silver and bronze medals. In addition, diplomas of excellence are awarded for reaching international standards. In the last competition, over 600 competitors took part.

Skills competitions are designed to allow trainees to put on show and be judged on the skills they have gained while working towards competence in an occupation. Competitors are tested on their ability to complete appropriate tasks in a given timescale to a given standard, using problem solving, fault-finding, work planning and innovation where appropriate.

The standards set in the World Skills Competition provide an international benchmark against which countries and industries can measure and compare performance with that of major overseas competitors. Competitors from the UK will be selected from the winners of national competitions organised by UK skills, the UK organisation responsible for skills competitions in this country. The UK's first skills show was held at the NEC in July as part of the Manpower National Skills Festival 2000.

To find out more about getting involved and entering skills competitions, visit the UK Skills website.