29 April 2005

The X Games, ESPN's showcase for extreme sports, are staying put for now, but a move to Canada in the future has not been ruled out. ESPN has signed a five-year deal to keep the Summer X Games in Los Angeles until 2009.

Aspen until 2007
The Winter X Games have signed a long-term deal with Aspen, Colo., and will remain there until 2007. After that, Whistler is known to be under consideration as a potential site.

"Could the X Games be staged and be successful outside of the United States? Absolutely," Semiao said during a telephone conference call. "Canada is a place where that could happen." Semiao said several Canadian venues could host either the summer or winter event.

A version of the X Games has already ventured north. In May 2003 Whistler hosted the winter half of the Global X championships for snowboarding events, held at the same time skateboarding, in-line skating and bike competitions were staged in San Antonio, Tex.

The first Extreme Games, the forerunner to the X Games, was held in 1995. The name was changed to X Games in 1996 and the first Winter X Games burst onto the scene in 1997. Originally, X Games were rotated among cities every two years.

Looking for a longterm home
"Now that the brand has become established we feel establishing a longterm home which will allow us to focus on the event to make it the best event it can be for our athletes, the spectators and the sponsors," said Semiao. The Winter X Games have been held in sites such as Crested Butte Mountain, Colorado and Mount Snow, Vermont.

Whistler has hosted World Cup skiing and snowboard events and the World Snowboarding Champs this year. It will also be the site of Alpine skiing, Nordic events, ski jumping and bobsled competitions at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

For more information visit the X-Games website.

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