X Games
The X Games are a series of action sports events founded by ESPN Inc. which air on the ESPN family of networks including ABC. The events are mainly held in the United States, with disciplines such as skateboarding, BMX, motocross, skiing and snowboarding. Participants compete to win bronze, silver, and gold medals, as well as prize money. Concurrent with competition is the "X Fest" sports and music festival, which offers live music, athlete autograph sessions, and interactive elements. The 2024 X Games Summer Edition will happen in Ventura, California on June 27-30.
For the computer game series, see X (video game series).Sport
The inaugural X Games were held during the summer of 1995 in Providence and Newport in Rhode Island. The competition often features new tricks such as Tony Hawk's 900 in skateboarding, Shaun White's Double McTwist 1260 in snowboard, Dave Mirra's Double Backflip in BMX, Travis Pastrana's Double Backflip in freestyle motocross, Heath Frisby's first snowmobile frontalis, Chuck Carothers's first body varial in Moto X Best Trick, Henrik Harlaut's first nose-butter triple cork in Ski Big Air, Gus Kenworthy's first switch triple rodeo in a ski slopestyle competition and Torstein Horgmo's first landed triple cork in a snowboard competition.
The X Games gained media exposure due to their big name sponsors, top-tier athletes, and consistent fan attendance. As the Journal of Sport Management (2006) explains, Generation X and Millennials are the two demographics most highly valued by marketers. This creates a broad approach on marketing towards that certain demographic, which is why the X Games marketing and economic outlook is so "out of the box". According to a 2008 report by ESPN, in 1997, the Winter X Games inaugural year, 38,000 spectators attended the four-day event. In 1998, the attendance dropped to 25,000 spectators. But just two years later, a record attendance of 83,500 people attended the Winter X Games East Coast debut. The X Games and Winter X Games continue to grow with the popularity of action sports and the athletes who compete in them.
As part of the X Games, there have been performances by various rock bands over the years, as well as a DJ being on-site at all events. The X Games have made it a point since its founding to stage an eco-friendly event. Such measures include using biodiesel fuel in their vehicles and organizing recycling campaigns.[2]
The X Games has never carried out drug tests on competitors, a position which has been criticized by the World Anti-Doping Agency director general David Howman and the International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach.[3][4][5]
In late 2022, ESPN sold the event to MSP Sports Capital, a private equity firm co-founded by Jahm Najafi and Jeff Moorad.[6] X Games California 2023 returned to its roots and the birthplace of action sports after a 10-year hiatus – showcasing the world’s best action sports athletes in the sports of Skateboarding, BMX and Moto X. [7] On Apr 3rd, 2024 X Games announced the return to Ventura for a 2024 edition. [8]
Global expansion[edit]
X Games Asia have been held annually since 1998.
In May 2003, the X Games held the Global Championships, a special event where athletes from five continents competed across 11 disciplines. The event was held in two locations: the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, and Whistler, British Columbia.[10][11] The final team results, in order, were the United States, Europe, Australia, Asia, and South America.
In May 2011, ESPN held a bid to select three host cities in addition to Los Angeles, Aspen, and Tignes, France, to form a six-event calendar for the next three years beginning in 2013.[12] In May 2012, the selected cities were announced: Barcelona, Spain; Munich, Germany; and Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.[13] The two European cities have hosted the Summer Olympic Games in the past, whereas Brazil has provided several X Games competitors.[14][15][16] Since 2010, Winter X Games Europe has been held in Tignes and also began holding events in Norway in 2016. An event in Sydney, Australia was held in 2018 and winter and summer events were also planned for 2019 and 2020 in China and a return trip to Norway in 2020.
X Games Chiba, the first edition to take place in Japan, was introduced in 2022.[17]
Movies[edit]
Two movies were filmed at the X Games. Ultimate X: The Movie was filmed at the 2001 X Games in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and X Games 3D: The Movie was filmed at the 2008 X Games and Winter X Games in Los Angeles, California and Aspen, Colorado.
Other media[edit]
Video games[edit]
ESPN X Games Skateboarding was released for the PlayStation 2 & Game Boy Advance in North America on August 13, 2001, and September 12, 2001. The park course featured in the game was based on the one used at the 2000 X Games in San Francisco, California. The Xbox version of the 2004 video game MTX Mototrax had the 2003 X Games Freestyle Motocross course as one of the Freestyle levels. The Winter X Games level featured in the game ESPN Winter X-Games Snowboarding (released on October 26, 2000, in North America for the PlayStation 2) was based on the courses at Mount Snow, Vermont. ESPN X Games Snocross is a snocross racing video game from ESPN and 2XL Games that was released on January 18, 2010, for iOS which is now named 2XL Snocross. It was the first game demoed on the Apple iPad on stage January 27, 2010 by Scott Forstall.[37][38]