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29/06/2012
Magharafelt Beats Olympic Rings Record
The town of Magharafelt is officially a record-breaker.
Guinness World Records have confirmed that the town, in County Londonderry, managed to get the most people ever forming the Olympic Rings.
More than 3,000 pupils and teachers from local schools welcomed the Olympic torch to the north-west town on June 7 in the shape of sporting contest’s five-ringed logo.
They beat previous record-holders Bath, who formed the rings with 2,234 participants.
Magharafelt District Council organised the attempt in seven days, fast-tracking their application.
Preparation involved ordering more than 3,000 ponchos as one of the specifications in gaining the record was that participants were in similar clothing in the various colours of the rings.
Strict guidelines also had to be adhered to which included forming the rings for at least 10 minutes and making it easily identifiable from above.
But the attempt had to be moved inside when bad weather threatened to rain it off.
Paul McLean, council chairman, said he was pleased with the Guinness certification.
He said: "To celebrate the Olympic Torch Relay visit on 7 June, Magherafelt District Council set out to get as many people involved in something that they would remember for the rest of their lives, and a Guinness World Record is a very fitting way to achieve this."
(NE)
Guinness World Records have confirmed that the town, in County Londonderry, managed to get the most people ever forming the Olympic Rings.
More than 3,000 pupils and teachers from local schools welcomed the Olympic torch to the north-west town on June 7 in the shape of sporting contest’s five-ringed logo.
They beat previous record-holders Bath, who formed the rings with 2,234 participants.
Magharafelt District Council organised the attempt in seven days, fast-tracking their application.
Preparation involved ordering more than 3,000 ponchos as one of the specifications in gaining the record was that participants were in similar clothing in the various colours of the rings.
Strict guidelines also had to be adhered to which included forming the rings for at least 10 minutes and making it easily identifiable from above.
But the attempt had to be moved inside when bad weather threatened to rain it off.
Paul McLean, council chairman, said he was pleased with the Guinness certification.
He said: "To celebrate the Olympic Torch Relay visit on 7 June, Magherafelt District Council set out to get as many people involved in something that they would remember for the rest of their lives, and a Guinness World Record is a very fitting way to achieve this."
(NE)
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