Returning to the epicentre of Asian action sports, ESPN's 2001 Asian Xtour Kuala Lumpur presented by Toyota will kick off on Saturday 29 September at Mid Valley Mega Mall Carpark. It will feature Malaysian action sports athletes competing in skateboarding, bicycle stunt and aggressive in-line skating.

As well as featuring some of Malaysia's top action sports athletes, the Tour will act as a curtain-raiser for the big event, the Asian X Games Qualifier IV presented by Toyota, which will take place in Kuala Lumpur in January 2002. This is the regional event drawing the leading atheltes from across Asia to compete for a share of US$100,000 prize money, medals and an invitation to compete in ESPN's X Games in the USA.

The Asian Xtour Malaysia presented by Toyota is the only avenue for Malaysian athletes to enter the Qualifier.

The 2001 edition of the region's premier action sports competition promises to be bigger and better than ever. This year's Tour will introduce a number of new innovations that maintain the event's standing as the best action sports competition in Asia. The ESPN event is the only competition conducted under the sanctioning of the worldwide governing bodies for action sports: The Aggressive Skaters Association, World Cup Skateboarding and Hoffman Sports Association. Each of these three organisations has provided representatives who will act as Head Judges for each event.

Secondly, ESPN has invested in a special competition course that will travel to each Tour venue. State-of-the-art coating, Skatelite, has been used to provide athletes with the super-smooth surface necessary for professional-standard skating.

Highlights from the 2001 Asian Xtour Kuala Lumpur presented by Toyota will be broadcast on the ESPN International networks.

Background to the X Games
The Asian X Games Qualifier was first held in 1998 and is the most prestigious multi-event competition for action sports in Asia. Between 1998 and 2000 it took place on Phuket Island, Thailand.

Showcasing 250 of Asia-Pacific's best action sport athletes the event serves as a qualifier to the US Summer X Games, the pinnacle of global action sports competition. Athletes compete in aggressive in-line skating, bicycle stunt, skateboarding, sport climbing and wakeboarding. The Junior event, inaugurated in 1999, is modelled after the senior Games and brings together 130 children aged 14 years and under.

In 2000, ESPN expanded the competition through the Asian Xtour presented by TOYOTA, a series of pre-qualifiers to the regional event. This year, Tour stops will be held in Shanghai, Bangkok, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore. The Tour events are the only avenue for entry into the regional competition taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (27 January - 3 February 2002).

Winners of the regional competition will secure a place at the 2002 Summer X Games, to be held in Philadelphia USA (12-25 August 2002).

ESPN will televise the Asian event to more than 140 million homes around the globe. In addition, asianxtour.com, housed at EXPN.com, the action sports and culture website will offer extensive coverage of the Games.

In 2001 ESPN will launch X Games Qualifiers and Junior X Games in Europe, Australia and Latin America. A global challenge is also planned, pitting athletes from each of the Qualifiers against one another. The Asian X Games Qualifier was the first international qualifier and remains the template for the future.

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