Most People Standing on One Leg Simultaneously 2011
On Wednesday February 23rd, 2011, the doors opened to the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon, and the fans poured in ready to watch the Portland Trailblazers take on the LA Lakers. What these fans did not know, was that the official Captain Morgan and the Morganettes were inside mingling with the spectators getting ready to attempt a world record.
Sporting events generally generate enthusiasm and hype just in the nature of the competition and anticipation they bring. This evening’s game excitement was bumped up a notch with the presence of Captain Morgan and a Guinness World Records attempt taking place at half time. Crowd members were recruited to join Captain Morgan on the court to attempt the Guinness World Records record for Most People Standing on One Leg Simultaneously.
The work behind arranging some 500 people to join Captain Morgan on the court, took meticulous planning. I arrived to Portland the day before the game to walk around the vacant Rose Garden and work out the logistics with the organizers. Details of complying with league rules, deciding how to usher 500 people onto the court, hold the record attempt pose for 2 minutes, and then quickly usher every one off the court, within the 12 minute half-time period, were just some of the challenges the organizers were facing. After covering details and touring the Rose Garden, the logistics were in order for the following evening.
On game night, the Captain Morgan staff were working hard to recruit and have participants sign a waiver in order to participate in the record. The responses and excitement of the crowd was electrifying. Over 900 waivers were signed by eager fans. The game kicked off and as half time neared, an announcement was made on the PA that all participants for the Guinness World Records attempt were to make their way to the designated area. At this time I was on the court, ready to count the participants. As the half time buzzer rang, and the players made their way to their lockers, hundreds of people piled on to the court. The official spokesperson for Captain Morgan and Terry Porter, a professional basketball coach and former player in the National Basketball Association, led the crowd in the two minute pose of standing on one leg. The official Captain Morgan pose is to raise the left leg, so he looked like a natural!
The two minute countdown started, and several witnesses surrounded the crowd to ensure everyone remained on one leg. The time ended, at which point people had to make a mad dash off the court, in order to let the Trailblazers and Lakers return to play. I met with the witnesses and came to the final number of 339 participants. There were more people on the court; however several people dropped their leg, disqualifying them.
I met Captain Morgan to present him his official Guinness World Records certificate. He was one happy captain raising his left leg in celebration!
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