Fourteen of the World's Top Action Sport Athletes Land in Dubai for Region's First X Games
Dubai, UAE - ESPN X Games Dubai, presented by Mountain Dew, gear up for the start of an action packed three day event starting Wednesday, December 7th 2005 at Dubai Creek Park. Fourteen of the world's leading action sports athletes have landed in Dubai, eager to wow the crowds with the latest tricks from Aggressive In-line Skate, BMX Freestyle, Skateboarding and Moto X. ESPN X Games Dubai, which is free admission with just a Dhs 5 entrance fee into Dubai Creek Park, is sure to be a great day out for the whole family.
As ESPN debuts X Games in the Middle East, their upcoming Dubai event is proof of the increasing popularity of action sports in the region. Local skateboarding and BMX competitions are becoming more regular, with events at malls and indoor skate parks attracting large crowds. Now ESPN, the king of action sports events, is creating major excitement across the Emirates with children and adults alike looking forward to the seeing the experts in action at ESPN X Games Dubai.
"The athletes are very excited about meeting their fans here in Dubai and having the opportunity to display world renowned tricks in the four action sport categories," said Jack Wienert, X Games Executive Director. "The X Games have become a global fixture in the world of action sports, and we are proud to put Dubai on our list of host cities."
Chuck Carothers, the ESPN X Games 10 Moto X Best Trick gold medalist and one of the athletes who will be performing during the 3 day event, - commented on his forthcoming performance in Dubai: "I grew up four-wheelin' and have always enjoyed the action and adrenaline rush. I've heard that there are many extreme sports enthusiasts in the UAE and I'm really looking forward to sharing some of my tricks with them." He added, "I'm totally geared up for ESPN X Games Dubai! What makes this event so cool is that it happening for the first time in the Middle East and I feel honored to be part it." Arriving late last night into Dubai, Carothers has already commented on the city. "I am really going to love it here. What a cool city," said Carothers.
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.
"We are very happy to extend our long-standing relationship with the ESPN X Games to the Middle East, debuting in Dubai," said Ken Newell, General Manager GCC Business Unit PepsiCo International. 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, supported by Dodge and Dubai Tourism 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.
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For more information please contact:
ESPN X Games
Katie Moses Swope
Manager, Athlete Relations & Event Publicity
Tel: 310 642 1507
Email: katie.moses@espn.com
Press Contact
Melissa D'mello
Natalie Elliott
Gambate! Communications
Tel: 971 4 391 6424
Fax: 971 4 391 6634
E-mail: melissad@gambate.biz
© Press Release 2005
