FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
World’s Top Sword Swallowers Attempt to Break World Record
WILKES-BARRE, PA -- At midnight on Friday, September 3rd, top sword swallowers from around the world will attempt to break the world’s record for the "Most Swords Swallowed by Multiple Sword Swallowers" at the 3rd Annual Sword Swallowers Convention in Wilkes-Barre, PA under the auspices of the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI).
Veteran sideshow owners, historians, fans and performers such as fire-eaters, sword swallowers, human blockheads, and other top variety performers from around the world will come together over Labor Day weekend for the 3rd Annual Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers’ Convention in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Held at the Ramada Plaza Hotel from September 2-6, 2004 in conjunction with the 11th Annual Inkin’ the Valley Tattoo Show, the combined events are expected to attract more than 5,000 attendees and over half of the approximately 40 remaining professional sword swallowers left performing around the world today.
The original world's record for multiple sword swallowers swallowing multiple swords was first set during SSAI’s first “Big Swallow” at the initial Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers Convention on Friday, August 20, 2002 when 19 of the world’s top sword swallowers simultaneously swallowed 46 swords before an audience of their peers. The group’s mass record was broken a few minutes later when the 19 sword swallowers successfully swallowed a total of 50 blades simultaneously on their second attempt, thereby setting the current standing record.
While helping set the record, New York belly dancing sword swallower Natasha Veruschka also set the individual women's record by swallowing 11 swords at once, while Dai Andrews from Baltimore set the men's individual record by swallowing 11 swords in one swallow. The number of sword swallowers and swords was audited by a local accounting firm, verified by veteran sideshow owner Ward Hall and confirmed by sideshow historian James Taylor. The historic event was filmed by CNN and Shocked and Amazed TV for the Travel Channel, and witnessed by attendees, media and CNN viewers around the world on CNN International.
In August 2003 at the 2nd Annual Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers Convention, SSAI attempted unsuccessfully to break its previous record, with only 17 sword swallowers successfully swallowing a total of 32 swords at the same time. Natasha Veruschka broke her previous women's record to set her personal best by simultaneously swallowing 12 swords at once. The event was witnessed by sideshow industry experts and fans, and filmed for the Discovery Channel documentary "Stomachs of Steel" which aired in July 2004.
On Friday, September 3rd, SSAI will again attempt to break the current world record at the 3rd Annual Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers Convention in Wilkes-Barre. Currently over 20 sword swallowers are expected to attend and attempt to swallow over 50-plus swords simultaneously to break the standing record before an audience of fellow sideshow industry experts, peers, and fans.
The art of sword swallowing started about 4000 years ago in India and the Middle East, and requires the practitioner to use mind-over-matter techniques to control the body and repress the natural reflexes in order to insert solid steel blades up to 25 inches down the esophagus and into the stomach. With the demise of the traveling circus sideshows over the past thirty years, there are currently less than forty professional sword swallowers left performing the ancient but deadly art of sword swallowing around the world today.
The Sword Swallowers Association International is based in Nashville, TN and is comprised of sword swallower members around the world.
For more information:
www.swordswallow.org (SSAI)
www.swordswallow.org/events.php (Events)
www.swordswallow.org/convention.php (Convention)
www.swordswallow.com/records.php (Records)
Media contact:
Dan Meyer
Executive Director
Sword Swallowers Association Int'l
615-969-2568
Frank KossaInkin’ the Valley Tattoo Convention
www.inkinthevalley.com
frank@thegamestudio.net
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