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Arizona School Children Set Guinness World Record

sedona times / January 14, 2015 / No Comment

Arizona now holds the Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Game of Red Light, Green Light

Sedona AZ (January 14, 2015) – Today fourth- and fifth-grade students from 17 local elementary schools set the Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Game of Red Light, Green Light. The event took place on the newly refurbished Super Bowl XLIX Legacy Field at Arizona State University Preparatory Academy in Downtown Phoenix.

The previous record was set in August 2013 by 1,068 participants at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. Today 1,136 children from across the state broke the Oregon record and Arizona now holds the Guinness World Record.

“The main goal is to leave a lasting legacy throughout the communities of Arizona and we certainly did that today,” said Jay Parry, president and CEO of the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee. “We not only promoted healthy lifestyles to youth, but also became the first Super Bowl host city to land in the Guinness Book of World Records.”

The winner of the World’s Largest Game of Red Light, Green Light was 11-year-old Miguel Morales from Papago Elementary School in the Creighton School District. After setting the World Record, coaches from Playworks led students in the “World’s Largest Recess.” Students participated in games including five line soccer, jump rope, bridge ball and tally ho. They also danced to live music with SPIKE, the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee mascot.

Last summer, the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee and NFL Foundation, in partnership with United Healthcare, awarded Playworks a $100,000 grant. The grant has enabled Playworks, a non-profit organization, to provide a full-time coach in 18 Title 1 elementary schools, keeping more than 13,500 students active for up to 45 minutes throughout the school day.

“Playworks has been honored and excited to partner with the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee and United Healthcare and give our kids a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in fantastic events,” said Chuck Warshaver, executive director of Playworks Arizona. “We are appreciative of the funding, which will help us to grow from serving 13,000 low income students to more than 20,000 next school year.”

“The World’s Largest Game of Red Light, Green Light gave local youth the opportunity to exercise and have a great time, and inspired them to play and exercise more often at school during recess,” said Joe Gaudio of United Healthcare. The “World’s Largest Recess” is part of United Healthcare’s “Do Good. Live Well.” program, an employee-volunteer initiative to help prevent obesity.

ASU Preparatory Academy was selected as the host site for this record-breaking recess due to the field’s rich history. It is the site of the first high school in Phoenix from 1912 to 1982. ASU Prep Academy’s Super Bowl XLIX Legacy Field was refurbished and donated by the Host Committee, NFL Foundation and Arizona Cardinals in September 2014. The students and community in downtown Phoenix can now enjoy a plush, green field and new scoreboard for sporting events.

The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee is a private, non-profit Arizona corporation that drives Arizona’s plan for Super Bowl XLIX and responsible for the $30 million fundraising goal. The Host Committee plans and stages Super Bowl XLIX and all of its associated events in partnership with the NFL.

Playworks is a national nonprofit organization that improves school climate, reduces bullying, promotes fitness and increases student engagement in school through play and physical activity. Playworks teaches children to resolve their own conflicts that arise at recess and carry over to the classroom, restoring valuable teaching and learning time. We help transform recess into a safe, fun and inclusive time that gets students active and engaged so they can return to the classroom focused and ready to learn.

The Super Bowl is America’s number one watched television program and culminates the NFL football season. Arizona will host its third Super Bowl in 19 years on Sunday, February 1, 2015. Super Bowl XLIX will be played at the University of Phoenix Stadium.