From the world’s longest string of bras to a mass smooch, people around the globe will try to smash all sorts of weird and wacky records later this week, organisers said on Tuesday.
The second annual Guinness World Records Day on Thursday will see those bent on getting into the famous yearly Guinness records book, the compilation of internationally recognised world records, competing in zany attempts being planned worldwide.
The attempts include the largest simultaneous kiss in Paris, the largest tea party in Japan, the longest bra chain in South Africa, the longest line of dancers in Canada and the longest zorbing distance — rolling down a hill in a blow-up ball — in New Zealand.
In London, synchronised swimmers will brave the chilly November weather, not to mention the nippy waters of the Trafalgar Square fountains, to attempt the most ballet leg switches in a minute.
“From the 65Â 000 claims we’ve received in the last 12 months, we’ve approved a whopping 2Â 244 all-new records — that’s a 173% increase on last year,” said Craig Glenday, the editor of Guinness World Records.
“It’s clear that being a record breaker is more popular than ever and Guinness World Records Day is our way of acknowledging this testament to people’s desire to achieve.
“It’s a fundamental thing about the human condition; people want to push themselves further. It’s why people cross seas and climb mountains, it’s how we travel into space and create cures for diseases.”
The bra-chain attempt in South Africa will be in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and according to the organisers, the existing record is held by the Cyprus Cancer Patients’ Support Group, which created a bra chain consisting of 114Â 782 bras, measuring 111km.