UCI students to attempt Guinness world record for largest water blaster battle

EVENT:  UC Irvine will try to set a Guinness world record for the largest water blaster fight. Associated Students of UCI will host the effort, which aims to recruit 7,000 campus and community participants.

WHEN/WHERE: 11 a.m. registration, with the match starting at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24, at the Anteater Recreation Center fields, 680 California Ave. (bldg. 680, grid D10 on campus map)

INFORMATION:  Media planning to attend should contact Laura Rico at 949-824-9055 or lrico@uci.edu. Attendance and parking are complimentary for media who RSVP in advance.

BACKGROUND:  In what has become a Welcome Week tradition, members of the UC Irvine community will attempt to break a world record, this one currently held by residents of Valladolid, Spain, 2,671 of whom were in a water pistol fight organized by the city’s council in 2007.

Participants in UC Irvine’s event will register as members of either the blue team or the gold team and face off in an epic battle. An adjudicator from Guinness World Records will ensure that rules are followed and confirm the number of players for world-record certification.

Free T-shirts will be provided to those taking part, courtesy of The Hill. Festivities will include dozens of student organizations selling food, face painting, washable tattoos, student performers and an appearance by Peter the Anteater.

This is one of many activities scheduled for UC Irvine’s Welcome Week, during which more than 6,000 freshmen and transfer students will join the campus community. Among other events are an Anteater Involvement Fair; an “Aldrich Park After Dark” concert; a “Screen on the Green” showing of “2 Guns”; and a day of stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking in Newport Beach.