August 18, 2002 -ESPN, the action sports leader, has selected San Antonio’s
Alamodome and Whistler Blackcomb (British Columbia, Canada) as host sites
for X Games Global Championship I, a new team event scheduled for May
15-18, 2003. The annual first-of-its-kind competition, which will feature
these two distinct venues hosting events in summer (San Antonio) and
winter (Whistler) action sports simultaneously, will group six teams of
the world’s top athletes by their region.

The announcement was made today as X Games VIII continued in Philadelphia
by Ron Semiao, ESPN Vice President, Programming and Managing Director,
Global X Games; in conjunction with Michael Abington, Alamodome Director;
and Stuart Rempel, Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Whistler
Blackcomb.

ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC Sports will combine to televise 12 original hours of
coverage from X Games Global Championship I, May 17-24, 2003, while ESPN
International will distribute coverage of the event worldwide.

The X Games Global Championship will include 11 events from six sports
categories at the two venues: San Antonio (seven events from four sports)
and Whistler (four events from two sports).

“We are thrilled that these world-class venues support our commitment to
create a new global action sports competition,” Semiao said. “Their
combined event staging expertise and promotional savvy will lead to a
memorable X Games Global Championship I.”

Abington added, “San Antonio has had a number of huge events over the
years, but it ‘s a first for us to have an event like this. I am confident
that the people of our city will embrace this new event and be terrifically
excited about it. We, in the city of San Antonio, are really, really proud
and can’t wait to start the games.”

Rempel said, “As North America’s largest resort, we are anxious to host
the X Games Global Championship. Whistler has become an epicenter for
action sports culture and recreation, making this partnership a natural
fit. Bringing together the world ‘s greatest media company with the world
‘s greatest mountain resort is the perfect marriage.”

The X Games Global Championship centers on the formation of six teams
representing different regions of the world: U.S., Europe, Canada, South
America, Asia and Australia. Each of the teams will consist of two
athletes per region for each sport.

Results from both venues will be combined for an overall team score. The
primary outcome of the entire event will be to crown one of the six teams
the X Games Global Champion. In addition to the overall team scores,
individual performances will be recognized with prize money and medals.

X GAMES GLOBAL CHAMPIONSHIP I – SIX SPORTS, 11 EVENTS

Alamodome – San Antonio

Skateboard
– Vert
– Park

Bike Stunt
– Vert
– Park

Moto X
– Freestyle

Aggressive In-line Skate
– Vert
– Park

Whistler Blackcomb Resort – B.C., Canada

Snowboard
– Women’s SuperPipe
– Men’s SuperPipe

Ski
– Women’s SuperPipe
– Men’s SuperPipe

The creation of the X Games Global Championship establishes a major ESPN
action sports championship event in each of the first three quarters of
every calendar year: Winter X Games (first quarter), X Games Global
Championship (second quarter) and X Games (third quarter).

X GAMES – INTERNATIONAL FACTS

ESPN’s X Games franchise currently includes events in the U.S. and around
the world. Each year, the world’s best athletes gather to compete in the
Winter X Games and X Games, which have each become the premier action
sports championship for that season. Winter X Games VI took place in Aspen,
Colo. in January, while X Games VIII is taking place in Philadelphia
through August 19 with television coverage through August 22. In addition,
ESPN stages international competitions as regional supplements to the X
Games, including an annual Asian X Games (also Asian Xtour), European X
Games and Latin American X Games.

At Winter X Games VI, 47% of the medalists were from outside the U.S.,
while at X Games VII last August, international competitors captured 29% of
the medals. Athletes from 21 countries competed in X Games VII, while 16
countries had athletes compete in Winter X Games VI.