Sports-broadcaster ESPN, events-producer Canal Plus Events and the Tignes Ski & Snowboard Resort has announced the first Winter X Games will be held in Europe in March 2010.
The event will be the first Winter X Games – an ESPN franchise - held outside the United States. A list of the world's top winter action sports athletes will be invited to France to compete in eight different competitions over three days, including Ski and Snowboard SuperPipe and Slopestyle for men and women as well as a Snowmobile demonstration.
“We are delighted to work with ESPN and the X Games team to bring the Winter X Games to Europe. Canal Plus Events and the ESPN events team will draw on all their experience to ensure this is the biggest and best winter sports event in Europe in 2010,” said Jean-Louis Dutaret, Canal Plus Events CEO.
“As for soccer, rugby and many sports, Canal Plus Group will consider X Games as a global project, including TV, Internet and mobile. In a Winter Olympic year, and only a few weeks after athletes have competed in Vancouver, fans in Europe will again be able to watch the top names in the world compete head to head.”
Tignes Ski & Snowboard Resort Manager Sebastien Merignargues added: “Nothing could be more justified than Tignes as the host resort of the first Winter X Games Europe. Tignes, the sportiest European ski resort, is always at the forefront of action and freestyle winter sports.”
Canal Plus networks will show the Games in France and French-speaking territories in the Caribbean and Africa. ESPN will be responsible for all media rights distribution outside of France.
