ESPN X Games Concludes Today

Leading Action Sports Event Leaves Its Mark in the Middle East After Three Days of World-Class Performances

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - After three days of Aggressive In-line Skating, Skateboarding, BMX and Moto X, the people of Dubai experienced, for the first time, the X Games in their city. Partnering with PepsiCo, ESPN invited 14 of the world's top action sports pro athletes to make the journey to Dubai and perform on the vert and Moto X ramps. The exhibition was performed in front of a crowd that saw why these athletes are world champions in their respective sports. ESPN X Games Dubai concluded today at Dubai Creek Park, the second largest park in Dubai where it welcomed 22,900 screaming fans over the three days. Admission to ESPN X Games Dubai was free. There was a small fee to enter Dubai Creek Park.
 
Together with the presenting sponsor PepsiCo and its' Mountain Dew brand, along with sponsors Dodge and Playstation, the first ever ESPN X Games Dubai brought X Games champions from all over the globe. The athletes performed in Aggressive In-line Skate, BMX and Skateboard on the vert ramp as well as Moto X on the ramp-to-ramp course.

"This has been a phenomenal success for ESPN and Mountain Dew in laying the foundations for action sports in the Middle East," said Farhan Hasan, Marketing Manager for PepsiCo International about the three-day event." We look forward to continuing our partnership with ESPN and Dubai Tourism in staging the X Games annually in Dubai."

Skateboarder Sandro Dias of Brazil started today's exhibition by blasting more than 10 feet above the ramp and ended the evening with eight attempts to land the 900. Shane Yost of Australia quickly energized the packed amphitheater and beach crowd with multiple 720s (2 rotations) and huge airs. Near the end of the one hour show, USA Skateboarders Buster Halterman and Neal Hendrix gave the crowd a special treat with a spontaneous doubles routine which led England's BMX riders Jamie Bestwick and Simon Tabron into a doubles performance of their own. On the moto ramps, USA's Chuck Carothers pulled off a cliffhanger-a trick he has been waiting to perfect, and USA's Nixey Danielson performed multiple backflips. Due to high winds, Moto X was cut short, but the riders spent their remaining time at the Mountain Dew booth signing autographs for hundreds of fans. 

"This was my first time to the Middle East, and it was truly amazing," USA BMX rider Mike Mancuso said about his trip to Dubai. "From camel riding, to dune bashing and snowboarding, I had a blast. I was also really proud that this was my first time riding with this level of pros."

ESPN X Games Dubai saw one of the best roster of athletes for an exhibition-one that totaled 44 X Games medals. The list included Australia's Cesar Mora (Aggressive In-Line Skate) and Shane Yost (Aggressive In-Line Skate), Brazil's Sandro Dias (Skateboard), Denmark's Rune Glifberg (Skateboard), England's Simon Tabron (BMX), Germany's Toby Immler (BMX), Spain's Eduardo Terreros (BMX), United States' Buster Halterman (Skateboard), Neal Hendrix (Skateboard), Mike Mancuso (BMX), Chuck Carothers (Moto X) and Nixey Danielson (Moto X).

In addition to the exhibition on the vert ramp and moto course, ESPN X Games Dubai conducted the first ever music contest where regional and local artists submitted demo tapes for a chance to play at X Games Dubai. Together with Orbit Music Now, Virgin Megastores, EMI record label and local support from Rage Shop the series of competitions resulted in eight hip hop acts and three rock bands that performed each evening at the action sports exhibition.

ESPN's regional network ESPN Orbit joined with local broadcaster MBC to televise ESPN X Games Dubai throughout the Gulf, while ESPN International networks will present the event to more than 100 countries and territories worldwide.