Magherafelt Olympic stunt breaks record

Published Thursday, 19 July 2012
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As Northern Ireland gears up for the London 2012 Games, thousands of Mid-Ulster school children will be more excited than most as their involvement in the Olympic build-up helped break a world record.

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When the Olympic Torch made its way through Magherafelt, Co Londonderry on 7 June, school children from 33 schools came together in an attempt to create the largest formation of the Olympic rings.

A total of 3,206 children participated in the event at the Meadowbank Sports Arena. The children wore coloured ponchos to make up the impressive spectacle of the Olympic Rings.

The attempt organised by Magherafelt District Council made the record for 'Largest Human Olympic Rings'.

Council Chairman Paul McClean said the council are "absolutely over the moon".

"The officers saw a clip of another attempt in the UK and they thought this is a great idea to harness," he said.

"The logistics of bringing 3,206 children together with their teachers and community groups to form the formation here within the arena - to hold them in place for ten minutes, you know what it's like to hold a kid in a place for a short space of time- was an absolute fantastic achievement in its own right and one that we're very proud of."

"It was great to be here on the occasion and feel the atmosphere that was created."

Adam Gray, 12, was one of the record-breakers who participated on the day.

"It was really great because I was part of the rings and my name could be on it and I was part of the 3,000.

"You were so excited because you were going to do it, you were trying to break a world record.

"I felt very excited when we heard the news we had broken a record."

Hannah Wilson, 11, said she enjoyed taking part in the record attempt. "It was really good fun, it was fun to be part of the rings. It's a really big achievement," she said.

Vice Principal of Magherafelt High School, Stephen Elder commended the children for doing such a great job on the day.

"The children were excellent, from all the schools and they listened very attentively to all the instructions they were given," he said.

"It was a great opportunity for the children to be involved. It was a great opportunity to bring them all together on that occasion and celebrate the coming Olympics, and maybe invigorate the children to the project."

"It brings a great reflection on the town of Magherafelt, on the council themselves and on the local area and we're very happy to be part of the participating group."

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