The gauntlet has been thrown down-and what a big gauntlet it is. For a brief time on two occasions the U of A held the Guinness World Record for the largest dodge ball game. Last year, over 1,745 people at UC Irvine wrested the record away from the University. Not to be oudone, the U of A quickly took back the title with 2,012 players. But that didn't hold it for long as several institutions upped the ante. Rochester Institute of Technology hosted a game involving 2,136 players before being bested by The United States Air Force Academy, with almost 4,000 players participating. The Academy was then outdone once again by current record-holder UC Irvine, who had 4,488 people show up to play. Now it's the U of A's time to answer the bell for the next round.
"This is really going to be a huge challenge," says Colten Yamagishi, Students' Union vice-president (Student Life). "We need as many alumni and staff as possible to come out and play because we won't break the record with students alone. And it's extremely important that we bring the record home because it means a lot for U of A pride."
Over 5,000 people can fit in the Butterdome, where the attempt to reclaim the World Record will take place at noon on February 3, 2012. Arrive early and get to know some kindred students, alumni and staff... hopefully more than 4,488 of them.
Watch a clip from 2011's record-breaking game
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