03.10.03
EXPN.com

SAN ANTONIO AND WHISTLER SELECTED TO HOST FIRST-EVER X GAMES GLOBAL CHAMPIONSHIP I IN MAY 2003

Four-Day Team Event To Include Two Venues, Winter & Summer Action Sports

Want to Go to Texas?
Want to Go to Whistler?

ESPN, the action sports leader, has selected San Antonio's Alamodome and Whistler Blackcomb Resort (British Columbia, Canada) as host sites for X Games Global Championship I, a new team event scheduled for May 15-18, 2003. The annual first-of-its-kind competition, which will feature these two distinct venues hosting events in summer (San Antonio) and winter (Whistler) action sports simultaneously, will group six teams of the world's top athletes by their region.

Chad Kagy hucks his signature "flipwhip" over the park pyramid during X Games VIII Bicycle Stunt Park competition..

The announcement was made today as X Games VIII continued in Philadelphia by Ron Semiao, ESPN Vice President, Programming and Managing Director, Global X Games; in conjunction with Michael Abington, Alamodome Director; and Stuart Rempel, Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Whistler Blackcomb.

ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC Sports will combine to televise 12 original hours of coverage from X Games Global Championship I, May 17-24, 2003, while ESPN International will distribute coverage of the event worldwide. The X Games Global Championship will include 11 events from six sports categories at the two venues: San Antonio (seven events from four sports) and Whistler (four events from two sports). See page two for details.

"We are thrilled that these world-class venues support our commitment to create a new global action sports competition," Semiao said. "Their combined event staging expertise and promotional savvy will lead to a memorable X Games Global Championship I."

Drake McElroy, with a very tall Tsunami, helping to secure his bronze during X Games VIII.

Abington added, "San Antonio has had a number of huge events over the years, but it's a first for us to have an event like this. I am confident that the people of our city will embrace this new event and be terrifically excited about it. We, in the city of San Antonio, are really, really proud and can't wait to start the games."

Rempel said, "As North America's largest resort, we are anxious to host the X Games Global Championship. Whistler has become an epicenter for action sports culture and recreation, making this partnership a natural fit. Bringing together the world's greatest media company with the world's greatest resort is the perfect marriage."

The X Games Global Championship centers on the formation of six teams representing different regions of the world: U.S., Europe, Canada, South America, Asia and Australia. Each of the teams will consist of two athletes per region for each sport.

Results from both venues will be combined for an overall team score. The primary outcome of the entire event will be to crown one of the six teams the X Games Global Champion. In addition to the overall team scores, individual performances will be recognized with prize money and medals.

Winter X Games VII gold medal winner, Shaun White, turns up the base for a capacity crowd with this big ol' method air.

FIRST-EVER X GAMES GLOBAL CHAMPIONSHIP SIX SPORTS -- 11 EVENTS

San Antonio, Texas:

Skateboard

Vert

Park

Bicycle Stunt

Vert

Park

Moto X

Freestyle

Aggressive In-line Skate

Vert

Park

Whistler, BC, Canada:

Snowboard

Women's SuperPipe

Men's SuperPipe

Ski

Women's SuperPipe

Men's SuperPipe

SIX TEAMS:

Asia

Australia

Canada

Europe

South America

U.S.

Want to Go to Texas?
Want to Go to Whistler?

The creation of the X Games Global Championship establishes a major ESPN action sports championship event in each of the first three quarters of every calendar year: Winter X Games (first quarter), X Games Global Championship (second quarter) and X Games (third quarter).

X GAMES - INTERNATIONAL FACTS

ESPN's X Games franchise currently includes events in the U.S. and around the world. Each year, the world's best athletes gather to compete in the Winter X Games and X Games, which have each become the premier action sports championship for that season. Winter X Games VI took place in Aspen, Colo. in January, while X Games VIII is taking place in Philadelphia through August 19 with television coverage through August 22. In addition, ESPN stages international competitions as regional supplements to the X Games, including an annual Asian X Games (also Asian Xtour), European X Games and Latin American X Games. At Winter X Games VI, 47% of the medalists were from outside the U.S., while at X Games VII last August, international competitors captured 29% of the medals. Athletes from 21 countries competed in X Games VII, while 16 countries had athletes compete in Winter X Games VI.

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