A Monopoly Marathon Madness

Guinness World Record is the goal for Toronto playing an all time favourite game

This weekend the people of Toronto are going to witness the setting of a world record. A public challenge is being issued to attempt a Guinness World Record for the longest time a team continuously plays Monopoly. And since no official record has been set yet, someone is bound to make it into the record books.
The organizing force behind this event is The Toronto Games, a private, not-for-profit initiative of the Greater Toronto Community Clearinghouse, the registered charity responsible for many critical community projects in Toronto. Their work has included Project Warmth, best known for collecting and distributing sleeping bags and blankets to the city's homeless; and Learning Support Council of Canada, which provides educational technology and supplies to many schools and organizations across Canada.
The kick-off event for the Monopoly Challenge will begin at Toronto's downtown Holiday Inn on March 19 at noon, when media personalities from television, radio and print will compete for bragging rights to the first Toronto Games Media Cup. Members of the public who are going for the world record will also start playing at this time in teams of two or four. They will play until only one team is left playing, or until Sunday at 3:00 p.m., whichever comes first.
On Saturday, while would-be record-setters continue to play through, members of the city's banking community will roll up their sleeves to compete in the special Banker's Challenge. Sunday marks the Toronto Games Open Monopoly Challenge, in which the public is invited to play up to 90-minute games, with Gold, Silver and Bronze certificates issued for the most games won. Meanwhile, everyone is welcome throughout the weekend to come on down and play a casual game.
There is no entry fee, but players are encouraged to obtain pledges of support to raise money for their favourite charity along with the Toronto Games, with net proceeds being shared equally. Pledge sheets are available on the Toronto Games website. (See below.)
The Monopoly Challenge is just one of the many events planned by The Toronto Games initiative to raise funds for charity. Founder Ron Smith aims to help youth at risk in the community. He believes that participation in such tournaments of popular games and activities can help to promote life skills.
"I hope to give kids a new set of tools with which they can achieve their goals in life," says Smith. "These activities really teach interactive skills."
Other upcoming Toronto Games events will include Beach Volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee, Golf, and more.

The Toronto Games Monopoly Challenge will be held at the Holiday Inn on King Street in downtown Toronto, beginning at noon on Friday, March 19 and ending on Sunday, March 21 at 3:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.torontogames.com.

Publication Date: 2004-03-21
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3771