On their hands and knees, more than 600 babies in Japan crawled to the finish line

Japanese publisher Benesse organised the one-day event at a shopping mall More than 600 babies in Japan wriggled to the finish line on their hands and knees in the world’s largest crawling competition on Monday.

Japanese publisher Benesse organised the one-day event at a shopping mall in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo, inviting infants aged between six months and one year and four months to participate in the three-metre (10-foot) race. Some vigorous babies crawled determinedly towards the finish line and their waiting parents, while others refused to participate, sitting stationary on the starting line and crying loudly.

Japanese publisher Benesse organised the one-day event at a shopping mall

The competition, involving 601 babies, was logged as a new Guinness World Record

A baby competes in a crawling competition in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture, on November 23

The winner was awarded a headset digital camera, which allows parents to take pictures and videos of their children with their hands free Credit: TBW; Photo credit: AFP/Getty Images