ESPN International has selected Barcelona, Spain to host the inaugural European X Games Qualifier, July 19-22, it was announced by Mark Reilly, Vice President, Global X Games, ESPN, Inc.

The European X Games Qualifier will gather more than 250 of Europe’s leading action sports athletes to compete for prize money, medals, and the most coveted award of all-a
qualifying place in the upcoming 2001 X Games in Philadelphia in the United States, August 17-23.

The European X Games Qualifier in Barcelona will feature the top action sports athletes from such countries as Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom competing in various events within the four sport
categories of Skateboarding, Bicycle Stunt, Aggressive in-line Skating, and Wakeboarding. In addition to qualifying for the 2001 X Games, top finishers will also qualify for a chance to represent their continent in the first-ever X Games Global Challenge scheduled for 2002.

‘The European X Games Qualifier is an important step in continuing to develop the X Games franchise worldwide,’ said Reilly, ‘and we believe that Barcelona is perfectly suited to host this event.’ ‘Barcelona’s beautiful
Mediterranean location, extensive sporting history, and its enthusiasm for action sports make it the obvious site for our first-ever European X Games Qualifier.’

The debut of the X Games Qualifier in Europe is a chief component of ESPN’s plan for a major year-round global expansion of its X Games franchise.

Over the next 12 months, more than a dozen X Games-related events will be staged on five different continents, including X Games Qualifiers, Junior X Games, the Asian XTour, the X Games, and the Winter X Games. In 2002, ESPN also plans to debut the X Games Global Challenge, a new event featuring regional teams of elite action sports athletes with both group and individual performances recognized with prize money and medals.

ESPN International and Barcelona officials will announce specific competition venues at a later date.

For further information, please contact:

Christopher Bellitti
Tel: +1 212 916 9889
E-mail: chris.bellitti@espn.com
www.expn.com
www.xgamesmedia.com