Friday, March 25, 2011

  Most people star jumping simultaneously: Boys & Girls Clubs sets world record (Video)

NEW YORK, USA -- Twenty thousand kids from more than 1,000 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country jumped for two minutes straight at exactly 5:30 p.m. on March 22, 2011 - setting the new world record for the most people star jumping simultaneously at multiple venues for two consecutive minutes .

  Photo: Kids and their parents do jumping jacks at Flodin Boys & Girls Club in Rockford to break the world record of most people simultaneously doing jumping jacks for two minutes. Photo courtesy: Max Gersh ( enlarge photo )

  To break the previous Guinness world record, more than 278 kids needed to complete the attempt.

  The Guinness world record for the most star jumps in one minuteis 61 and was achieved by Ashrita Furman (USA) at the Panorama Café in Jamaica, New York, USA.

  Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the most people jumping on spring loaded stilts: 103, achieved by Shao Lin Tagou Martial Arts School in Dengfeng City, Henan province, China.

  As part of National Boys & Girls Club Week (March 20-26), Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) embarked on this initiative with its Clubs across the country through the organization's Triple Play program.

   This program, supported by founding sponsor, Coca-Cola, and the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, encourages kids to eat healthier, become more physically active and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships.

  "Coca-Cola is proud to support the Triple Play initiative in partnership with the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation," said Quinton Martin, vice president, community marketing.

  "Research shows that this program is working – Triple Play is succeeding in getting kids to exercise more, eat a variety of foods and feel good about themselves. We are committed to promoting programs that help children, teens and adults live active, healthy lifestyles."

  Jumping jacks are called star jumps in some countries, because the arms, legs and head form a five-pointed star. The record is defined as, "the most people star jumping simultaneously at multiple venues for two consecutive minutes," according to Guinness World Records.

  Nearly one-third of children and teens in the U.S. are obese or overweight, according to multiple studies. Children and adults can avoid these devastating diseases by adopting and maintaining healthy habits early on.