Cyprus has officially broken the Guinness World Record for the longest alternating chain, with 4,073 people from all over the island clasping wrists on Tuesday night at the GSP stadium in Nicosia.
The event, organised by the Yianis Christodoulou Foundation, saw the island set a new world record for the “Largest Alternating Human Chain Holding Wrists” as they sustained the chain for one minute.
Elly Symons, an Australian with Cypriot roots, served as “Official Witness” in accordance with Guinness guidelines for the attempt, with various other Guinness representatives and 200 supervisors and volunteers overseeing the chain.
“A quite challenging record…became a reality,” the Yianis Christodoulou Foundation said in a statement as they eclipsed the previous record which was held by the city of Kyoto, Japan.
John Christodoulou thanked the participants and noted that “today we once again put Cyprus on the international map of achievements”.
The event, hosted by Andri Karantoni, was capped off with a concert by Greek singer Konstantinos Argiros, who sang the Cypriot version of the song “Eleftheros” while draped in the flag of Cyprus.
Christodoulou took the chance to also reflect on the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, stressing the significance of continuing to strive for a lasting solution.
“We must find the strength and unity for a solution if we do not want this situation to continue for another 50 years,” he said.
