- Prime Minister Modi’s leadership of a yoga session at the United Nations headquarters on the 9th International Yoga Day resulted in the establishment of a Guinness World Record for the highest participation of people from various nations in a yoga event.
- This article delves into the history, relevance, and critics of Guinness World Records.
The History of Guinness World Records
- The concept of Guinness World Records arose from a bar conversation in the 1950s, when Sir Hugh Beaver, Managing Director of Guinness Brewery, sought a definite solution to resolve a debate.
- Sir Hugh conceived the idea of a book giving full and authoritative records in response to the necessity to settle conflicting facts.
- Norris and Ross McWhirter, two researchers, were engaged to create the first edition of the Guinness Book of Records, which proved an unexpected hit.
- The book grew into an annual publication that updated old records and established new ones.
Guinness World Records Scope and Coverage
- Guinness World Records documents and lists a wide spectrum of human accomplishments as well as extraordinary natural phenomena.
- The organisation now has 62,252 active records, including the tallest skyscraper in the world (Dubai’s Burj Khalifa) and the longest fingernails ever (Lee Redmond).
- Its presence has grown through television shows and a robust internet platform, and it has a sizable social media following.
Creating and Validating Records
- Guinness World Records has a worldwide network of over 75 adjudicators who determine record-breaking efforts.
- Individuals might invite an adjudicator to observe and validate the record through an application process.
- Criteria such as objective measurability, breakability, standardizability, verifiability, and being the finest in the world must be met.
- Guinness World Records received over 56,000 record enquiries from 171 countries in 2022, with over 7,300 records being granted.
Policy Changes and Criticism
- Guinness World Records has been chastised for its business model, which involves setting records as publicity stunts for companies and individuals, leading to charges of supporting dangerous behaviour.
- In 2019, comedian John Oliver chastised the organisation for accepting funds from autocratic nations for vanity projects.
- Guinness World Records updated its regulations in reaction to the criticisms and rejected records that harmed animals, endangered participants or spectators, or resulted in food waste.
Source: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/