UC Irvine has officially regained the Guinness world record for the largest dodgeball game in the world, according to a Guinness official.

The game started at 2:45 p.m. Follow live updates @hmltn or in this post.

Video of the game opening:

UCI set the record in September 2010 with 1,745 players, but the record has changed hands several times since then.

“I think we’ll meet goal of crushing the world record,” said Mark Deppe, UCI student adviser.

This year the event is open to the public and being held at the Anteater Recreation Center fields (680 California Ave.). There is parking available in the structure across from the fields but it costs money. A day parking pass at UCI costs $10.

A Guinness Official explains today’s dodgeball rules:

Officially, the record sits with the Rochester Institute of Technology with 2,136 players, set in May. The Air Force Academy has submitted a claim for a record as well but Guinness has not yet verified it. It’s reportedly between 3,000 and 4,000 players.

UCI hopes to draw 5,000. The event is part of the “Welcome Week” designed to introduce students to the school. Last year the event was held in the Bren Events Center and was limited to freshmen.

An official from Guinness will be attending to verify the record on site.

On my blog I’ve heard from as far away as Canada taunts from people participating in attempts to break this record. I also have received several “Zot! Zot!” comments of support for UCI too.

5,000 people is a lot of people, and it seemed like the school pulled everyone in they could find to set the record last time.

The previous dodgeball record event at UC Irvine:

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