President Proclaims Sword Swallower’s Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 21, 2008 -- HARTSELLE, AL - On February 28th, Sword Swallowers around the world will observe 'International Sword Swallower's Day' by doing what they do best - Swallowing swords!

Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) President Dan Meyer proclaimed the day to raise awareness of sword swallowers around the world.

Sponsored by SSAI, 'International Sword Swallower's Awareness Day' is set for the 28th in conjunction with February as 'National Swallowing Disorders Month'. This year, mayors, governors, and other governing bodies worldwide are requested to issue proclamations to officialize the day.

"We sword swallowers have been risking our lives to perform sword swallowing for over 4000 years, but many people don't believe it's real, or they think the art has died out," explains Meyer. "We've established this day to promote this ancient art, to raise awareness of the medical contributions sword swallowers have made to the fields of medicine and science, to honor veteran performers, and to correct misconceptions and educate the public and medical professionals by putting on medical demonstrations around the world."

Since some sword swallowers perform charitable work for the medical community to raise awareness of esophageal cancer, dysphagia, GERD, and other swallowing disorders, SSAI is encouraging sword swallowers to put on demonstrations at medical facilities and universities during the day. Sword swallowers will also perform at hospitals, nursing homes and orphanages for those who would otherwise have difficulty getting to theaters to see live performances.

"The sword swallowers who participate in these activities find them rewarding," explains Meyer. "On February 28th, many people will have the opportunity to see sword swallowing firsthand who would not otherwise have a chance to witness it."

In 2006, the British Medical Journal published the first international medical study of the art entitled "Sword Swallowing and its side effects". Co-authored by Meyer and Dr. Brian Witcombe, the year-long study of sword swallowers around the world won its authors the 2007 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine at Harvard University. In March, the authors will appear on the 2008 Ig Nobel UK Tour at Oxford, Imperial College, and other venues in conjunction with National Science and Engineering Week sponsored by the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

Until this study, sword swallowers' contributions to medical science had gone largely unrecognized over the last 140 years.

On February 28th, sword swallowers will perform around the world, with some setting individual and small group records. After the day is over, sword swallowers will submit a report of their activities to SSAI for consideration for a group record.

"As a rule, most of us usually perform individually," Meyer says. "'International Sword Swallower's Day' gives us a chance to all work together to be part of something much bigger."

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