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Cambodia breaks world record by folding 3,917,805 origami-style paper hearts after officials from the Guinness Book of World Records counted them up and declared the new record on April 11 at Angkor Wat.
Hun Many, a senior lawmaker and head of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC), which organised the event, said Cambodia’s efforts had set a new record this year were undertaken to show the love and unity of the nation.
UK was the record holder in 2019 with a display of 53,704 paper hearts, a project led by sports and exercise science students at the University of Kent.
British ambassador to Cambodia, Dominic Williams via social media congratulate Cambodia for the new record.
“As UK Amb, I should probably feel regret that we have lost our origami heart-making world crown. But Cambodia hasn’t just edged past us, it has launched into the stratosphere – nearly 4m! A special way to mark SEA Games,” he tweeted.
Many said the event was done in support of "Beyond the Games" campaign that is focused on showing support, encouragement and appreciation to all Cambodia's national team athletes, coaches and staff as well as everyone who has worked on preparations for the upcoming SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games hosted by Cambodia this May.
Many noted that every origami heart folded for the record was matched by a donation of 500 riel that went to the charity partners who help athletes with disabilities.
He said this is the first time in history that Cambodia has the honor to host the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, which are respectively in their 32nd and 12th editions.
In addition to being a gesture to support the Cambodian athletes, the folding of the paper hearts was to express pride in the Kingdom.
The record-breaking campaign recruited Cambodians to fold the origami hearts with participants folding them aged from 4 all the way up to 80.
“We display the hearts using bamboo. We don't think the hearts will be torn or broken by the wood and we intend for them to last for many days on display at Angkor Wat, during the day.
For Angkor Sangkran, the origami hearts will be organised together to form words or phrases around the Angkor Wat temple complex.
Back during the 2015 Angkor Sangkran holiday, Cambodia broke the record for the largest line dance, which involved over 2,000 participants. They also broke the record for the biggest rice cake, which weighed in at four tonnes.
In 2017, Cambodia broke the world record for the largest chapei dang veng, with a length of 7.70m. In 2018, Cambodia broke two more world records: Longest dragon boat or traditional racing boat in the world at 87.3m long and the longest krama traditional Cambodian scarf at 1,449 metres long.
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