Mon Aug 04 2008 10:45:00

ESPN and Dubai Event Management Corporation (DEMC) have formed a five-year collaboration to host the world's richest singular, multi-sport, action sports event. There will be a 2.5 million dollar prize purse  a record for X Games and the action sports industry—and X Games medals distributed to the athletes. The event will be held December 11-13, 2008 in Dubai, UAE. The Dubai X Games World Cup will bring together ESPN's world-class X Games franchise with the local expertise of DEMC.

Competitions will include Skateboard and BMX Street, Skateboard and BMX SuperPark, Moto X Racing, Freestyle and SuperMoto, along with a new X Games event that is well known in Dubai—ATV Enduro. The Dubai X Games World Cup will also feature local instructional clinics by professional athletes and regional qualifying events for specific sports.

"The partnership between ESPN and DEMC reiterates the phenomenal growth of Dubai as a leading event location and the continued growth of action sports in the region," said Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai his Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktour. "Dubai X Games will be bigger, better and richer than any other event in action sports."

"Dubai has been an incredible host city," said Rick Alessandri, senior vice president, ESPN consumer products and X Games managing director. "Over the past three years more than 70,000 action sports enthusiasts have seen their X Games heroes compete in Dubai. We are thrilled to be partnering with DEMC to host such a world class event and offer the world's largest prize purse for a multi-sport action sports event."

Richard Attias, CEO, DEMC said, "DEMC prides itself on bringing the biggest and best events to the Middle East. Last year we brought sports fans in the region to the Dubai World Cup—the richest horse race in the world and the Dubai Tiger Woods Golf Classic. This year, we are pleased to work with ESPN to bring the richest action sports event to the Middle East."

ESPN will produce 5 hours of original programming from Dubai. TV Coverage in the region will be extensive, with in-depth coverage on the ESPN family of channels available through ART as well as other TV channels throughout the region and around the globe.

Details and a list of scheduled athletes for ESPN X Games Dubai will be forthcoming on www.dubaixgames.com for the public and www.espneventmedia.com for media.