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PRESS RELEASE: Atlanta Nonprofit Pursuing Record for Longest Basketball Game Latest attempt to once again raise awareness about human trafficking
Latest attempt to once again raise awareness about human trafficking
ATLANTA (March 13, 2024) – After playing for 121 hours and breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest marathon softball game in September 2024, Men Opposing Sex Trafficking (MOST) is once again targeting the record books by attempting to break the mark for the longest continuous basketball game. The group of 24 men, all supporters of the nonprofit organization and its mission, intend to play for 121 consecutive hours from March 16-21 at Landmark Christian School in Fairburn, Ga.
The game will begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday, March 16 and is scheduled to conclude at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 21. Players are required to stay in the gym for the duration of the attempt and must eat and sleep on the court, only stepping out for five-minute bathroom breaks every two hours. There are no quarter breaks or timeouts – only a clock counting up toward the goal of 121 hours. The current record of 120 hours was achieved in Buffalo, New York in August 2021.
“When we broke the world record for the longest softball game in September, not only did we feel the tremendous outpouring of support from the community, but we were also inspired by the number of people asking questions about the ‘why’ at the heart of the initiative,” said Bruce Deel, CEO and founder of MOST. “Our goal as an organization is to raise awareness about the scourge of sex trafficking and make a meaningful difference in stopping it, and if that means upping the stakes and breaking another world record that seems impossible, that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
To be certified by the Guinness Book of World Records, the game can be played with a maximum of 12 players on each team, with a minimum of five on the court at all times. The teams will be split into groups of six and play in two-hour shifts throughout the day, then alternate five-hour shifts overnight to allow for sleeping. While team fouls will not factor into the game, any individual who accumulates six fouls in a two-hour window will be disqualified and cannot be replaced.
“Despite how daunting this challenge is, we filled all 24 roster spots almost immediately when word got out about our latest effort – with over half of the players having been part of our record-shattering softball game,” added Deel. “We know this will be grueling on our bodies and minds, but we believe in doing hard things for the right reasons, which is why these 24 men have fully committed themselves to proving what can be achieved when you work together for a greater good.”
As a result of its headline-grabbing triumph last fall, the three-year-old organization raised $500,000 and furthered its mission to encourage men to take a stand against sex trafficking, as more than 95% of people buying illegal sex are men. Initially focused squarely on spreading awareness, MOST now employs two analysts tasked with locating sex trafficking activity and an interdiction team of 11 men with military/law enforcement backgrounds that assist local authorities around the country with sting operations.
Admission to the world’s longest continuous basketball game is free and members of the public are welcome to attend at any time during the five-day event. Additionally, a live stream will be available on WeAreMost.org, with non-stop coverage for the duration of the record-breaking attempt.
About MOST Founded in 2022, MOST (Men Opposing Sex Trafficking) offers men the opportunity to learn, activate and invest in the fight against human trafficking and in the support of survivors. The nonprofit works closely with local law enforcement to tamp down on human trafficking across the nation, and has assembled a collective of partners skilled in the prevention of the practice, and in the rescue and recovery of survivors. MOST aims to educate others about the problem of human trafficking, enhance policy and legislation and create safe spaces for men to go for support, accountability, and comradery in the effort to reduce the demand for sex trafficking. To learn more about MOST, visit https://www.wearemost.org/.
