Namibia fails to break record

THERE were disappointed faces among the tired helpers at Namibia’s big braai on Saturday.

They fed 44 007 people, but it was not enough to break Australia’s Guinness world record. Security reasons were cited for the failure to break the record – counting had to be interrupted around sunset to prevent people from being trampled at the exit gates.Thousands of people queued up all day long at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura to feast on a hot dog with a piece of boerewors from the 8,3-km-long sausage.Namibian organisers wanted to beat the record set by Australia 13 years ago, when 44 158 people were fed in one day.Since then, no country had attempted to challenge this world record until Namibia this weekend.Namibia needed to feed 44 159 people to set a new record and when the organisers called off the counting, they were just 152 short.One of the event organisers, Allan Brough, said the crowd began pushing at the exit gates, forcing them to stop the count to avoid people, especially children, being trampled.People’s thumbs were marked again when leaving the stadium to prevent double counting, but when darkness began to descend, the crowds began to push forward, getting impatient to get out.Prime Minister Nahas Angula also helped to break the world record and duly ate a ‘worsdog’.In the afternoon, former President Sam Nujoma arrived and some Cabinet ministers also supported the event, which had a party atmosphere although no alcohol was served or allowed through the gates.Windhoek Mayor Mathew Shikongo said Namibia would try to break the world record again at a later stage.Security reasons were cited for the failure to break the record – counting had to be interrupted around sunset to prevent people from being trampled at the exit gates.Thousands of people queued up all day long at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura to feast on a hot dog with a piece of boerewors from the 8,3-km-long sausage.Namibian organisers wanted to beat the record set by Australia 13 years ago, when 44 158 people were fed in one day.Since then, no country had attempted to challenge this world record until Namibia this weekend.Namibia needed to feed 44 159 people to set a new record and when the organisers called off the counting, they were just 152 short.One of the event organisers, Allan Brough, said the crowd began pushing at the exit gates, forcing them to stop the count to avoid people, especially children, being trampled.People’s thumbs were marked again when leaving the stadium to prevent double counting, but when darkness began to descend, the crowds began to push forward, getting impatient to get out.Prime Minister Nahas Angula also helped to break the world record and duly ate a ‘worsdog’.In the afternoon, former President Sam Nujoma arrived and some Cabinet ministers also supported the event, which had a party atmosphere although no alcohol was served or allowed through the gates.Windhoek Mayor Mathew Shikongo said Namibia would try to break the world record again at a later stage.