ESPN X Games, the definitive annual action sports event is set to take Dubai by storm, with performances from 14 famous professional action sports athletes representing six different countries. The X Games comes to the Middle East for the first time ever in an exhibition format from December 7th -9th 2005 at Dubai Creek Park, placing Dubai on the action sports map, alongside places like Los Angeles; Aspen, Colorado and Philadelphia.
Current champions from Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Spain, United Kingdom and USA will create history in Dubai by performing action stunts, rides and tricks in sports such as BMX, Moto X, Aggressive In-line Skating and Skateboarding.
Amongst the list of athletes now confirmed is Chuck Carothers (Moto X), who risked life and limb to secure the gold for Moto X Best Trick with the first ever body varial, dubbed the “Carolla” at X Games 10 (2004). For this gravity-defying stunt the rider must let go of the motorcycle and complete a body-spin along the horizontal axis of the bike – all at speed, in the air and 35ft off the ground.
“Dubai has a huge action sports and X Games fan base, which is why we decided to bring it to the region. We are really excited about expanding the X Games internationally and the athletes can’t wait to perform in Dubai,” said Jack Wienert, X Games Executive Director.
Along with Chuck, Dubai will have the chance to see the world’s top athletes. The athletes scheduled for ESPN X Games Dubai are: Brazilian world champions, Fabiola da Silva (Aggressive In-line Skate) - the only woman to perform in the same league as the male athletes and Sandro Dias (Skateboard), England’s Jamie Bestwick (BMX) and Simon Tabron (BMX), Australia’s Shane Yost (Aggressive In-line Skate) and Cesar Mora (Aggressive In-line Skate), Spain’s Eduardo Terreros (BMX), Denmark’s Rune Glifberg, USA’s Buster Halterman (Skateboard), Neal Hendrix (Skateboard), Nixey Danielson (Moto X), Jesse Olson (Moto X) and Mike Mancuso (BMX).
The X Games are the brainchild of the sports TV Network ESPN (Entertainment and Sports Programming Network), The Worldwide Leader in Action Sports, who first developed the franchise in 1995. ESPN was looking to create an international forum for action sports athletes. Its popularity has continued to grow around the world and only top athletes secure an invite to the X Games.
Today the X Games and Winter X Games are the biggest action sports events in the world. As part of the ESPN Original Entertainment division, X Games, Winter X Games and All Access are just some of the original action sports programming currently shown on ESPN and ESPN2. The brand has also grown to include international X Games events, EXPN.com, EXPN Radio, the large format film ESPN's Ultimate X, and various X Games-branded retail products.
PepsiCo International and its Mountain Dew brand who have been supporting the X Games throughout its 11 years of its existence will extend their partnership with ESPN in the Middle East along with Dodge and Playstation to provide consumers in the Middle East with a spectacular action sports event and programming. Admission to the event is free, with a DHS 5 charge to enter Dubai Creek Park.
