Ten thousand people "represent" Taiwan to play the ocarina - A joint effort that successfully makes a new Guinness World Record / 台灣陶笛 萬人吹奏--成功締造 金氏世界新紀錄
The ocarina is not the most well-known instrument in the world, however, when ten thousand people united in Kaohsiung to break the Guinness World Record, the power from those tiny little flute holes gave onlookers not only beautiful sounds, but also demonstrated the energy and spirit of the city.
On the afternoon of December 18, 2004, the citizens of the city, as well as other enthusiastic folks totaled 11,511 people. They collectively gave the 80-year old Kaohsiung City this special gift - a new Guinness World Record for the most people playing the ocarina at any one time.
"This is an exciting and glorious moment for the whole of Kaohsiung. Anyone witnessing this moment is sure to feel touched. In the past, it has been more common for individuals, rather than groups, to break Guinness World Records; but today, this record involving ten thousand people shows the level of will and unity of the Kaohsiung people" - Mayor of Kaohsiung City, Frank Hsieh said in a touched mood.
We all know that the development of a city cannot be achieved by any one single person; it relies on the combined strengths and efforts of all citizens. Likewise, a city's record is not written by a single person but by combining the will and the minds of all people. Indifference and ignorance will not "push the giant wheel up the road" and only enthusiasm and courage will prevent the lives of the city from rotting.
Therefore, besides being touched by the vast number of determined minds of all citizens and also by the excitement of breaking the record, people were also touched by the involvement of friends in other counties and cities. Among those enthusiastically involved included Robert Forden (Chief of AIT Kaohsiung branch) and his family, thirty-one students from Hai-Duan Elementary School in Taitung, and the blind-guide-dog (Turk) and Mr. Cheng-Chung Lee's family who drove down from the north. There were also many others who work and study in other parts of Taiwan and who overcame great difficulty to participate in the festival.
"It was indeed a very memorable experience to challenge the Guinness World Record together with ten thousand citizens and friends. The process was tiring; however, I believe that whatever we do in Kaohsiung City in the future, it's sure to be a success due to the abundance of people who demonstrated their willingness and dedication to a task today. Kaohsiung is a city full of hopes and dreams, and it's certain to make the hosting of the 2009 World Games a success", said Mayor Hsieh.
Kaohsiung is a city spreading the images of water and light as well as a city full of music, culture, and art. The joy and novelty of breaking the record is still 'in the air' and the power to do this came from the solid goals of the city and the energy and assertiveness of all citizens.
陶笛，原本不起眼，可是當它遇見高雄後，卻從小小的笛孔中，流成一股磅礡的氣勢，展現出來的，不只是音符跳動出的優揚笛聲，更是這座城市的活力與精神。
2004年12月18日的下午，高雄市民與其他熱心民眾，總計11511人，齊眾送給這座城市一份80歲的生日禮物，一份締造「最多陶笛吹奏」的金氏世界紀錄。
「這是興奮的一刻、也是高雄光榮的一刻，任何人看到今天的場景都會感動，以往多是以個人挑戰或創造金氏世界紀錄，今天一萬多位民眾齊心締造新紀錄，則是展現了高雄市城市的意志與團結的力量。」高雄市長謝長廷如此感動地表示。我們知道，城市的發展，不是一人所及，靠的是眾志成城的氣魄與努力；城市的紀錄，也不是個人在書寫，而是匯聚眾人齊心所致。冷淡與漠視，帶不動城市前進的巨輪；唯有熱情與勇氣的執著，城市的生命才不會一片荒蕪。
因此，要說感動，除了市民的堅決參與、締造世界新紀錄的剎那興奮之外，更有來自於外縣市朋友的熱情參與，有美國在台協會高雄分處處長Rober Forden一家人，有從台東而來的海端國小三十一位學童，有台灣導盲犬協會主任李政忠一家人與導盲犬Turk南下共同的投入，也有在他鄉工作與求學的在地人，他們紛紛接到來自高雄或家鄉熱情的邀約，排除可能的不便與艱難，一同參與這場盛會。
「能與一萬多位民眾一同成功挑戰金氏世界紀錄，令人感動與難忘，過程雖然辛苦，但有這麼多的民眾願意花時間投入練習並接受挑戰，相信未來高雄市做任何事情都會成功，高雄市絕對是一個有希望的城市，也一定能成功完成2009年世運會。」謝市長這麼說。
高雄，在台灣除綻放水與光的城市意象，也是一座充滿音樂、文化與藝術的城市，目前締造世界新紀錄的喜悅仍在內心激盪著，這份能量，來自於城市具體的目標，更來自於市民對城市的驕傲。