In a grueling effort that pushed both endurance and awareness, the Men Opposing Sex Trafficking (MOST) organization has set a new world record for the longest continuous softball game. The event, played at Dellinger Park in Cartersville, lasted for 121 hours, kicking off on Tuesday and culminating on Sunday. As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, the previous record, as recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records, was 115 hours.
The record-setting game is part of MOST's initiative to raise awareness about sex trafficking and the significant role men play both as perpetrators and potential allies in the fight against this crime. During the match, players adhered to stringent Guinness stipulations, sleeping by the dugouts, consumed over 800 energy drinks, they and fueling up on meals taken on the field, according to WSBTV.
Guinness rules permitted up to 40 players to be rostered for the event, with a core group of no fewer than 20 completing the challenge. "Yeah, we’re tired. We take breaks and get a little nap here and there," said Bruce Deel, founder and CEO of MOST, in a statement obtained by WSBTV. He went on to describe the rotation process among players, ensuring that despite the fatigue, everyone was holding up.
With two analysts on staff and an 11-man interdiction team composed of military and law enforcement veterans, MOST doesn't just promote awareness but also actively participates in tracking and combating sex trafficking operations. They have been reported to assist in sting operations together with local authorities across the nation. With the spotlight now brighter with their world record, MOST continues to emphasize the troubling statistic that over 95% of individuals purchasing illegal sex are men, as per FOX 5 Atlanta.
The exhausting event was also MOST's second attempt at the record; their initial go in April was thwarted by inclement weather and injury setbacks. But perseverance paid off as they took to the diamond, with players receiving over 200 chiropractic adjustments and 100 ice baths, as an effort to stay physically capable for the duration of the game. All this, MOST hopes, will bring much-needed attention to their cause: A stand against sex trafficking, fighting the demand to diminish the supply, as told to WSBTV by Bruce Deel.
