ESPN will take its Winter X Games franchise outside the U.S. for the first time next year.
Teaming with Canal + and Tignes Ski & Snowboard Resort, the event will be held in Savoie in the Northern French Alps from March 10-12, 2010.
There will be eight different competitions over three days, including ski and snowboard superpipe and slopestyle for men and women, as well as a Snowmobile demonstration.
The event, taking place just a few weeks after the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, figures to attract a number of competitors from the Games.
"Working with CANAL + and Tignes, and drawing on more than 10 years experience of running the Winter X Games in the United States, we are excited to bring winter action sports fans in Europe the best action sports event they will see in 2010," said Rick Alessandri, ESPN senior vice president and managing director, X Games, in a statement. "This first event outside the U.S. reflects the continued global growth of the X Games franchise as well as the progression of action sports in Europe."
Noted Canal + Events CEO Jean Louis Dutaret : "We are delighted to work with ESPN and the X Games team to bring the Winter X Games to Europe. CANAL + 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. As with soccer, rugby and many sports, CANAL + 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."
