Athletes and fans from around the world are in Aspen, Colorado today for the start of the 2012 Winter X-Games. The business agenda includes evaluation of new locations for future X-games events, including four in the Southern Hemisphere well positioned to make X-Games excitement a year round phenomenon.
Currently, Winter X-Games events take place in both Tignes, France and Aspen, Colorado. The Summer X-Games take place each year in Los Angeles. Aspen faces competition only from Whistler, British Columbia, host city of the 2010 Winter Olympics. New candidate cities for additional events of the Summer X-Games can attract new fans and spectators from nearby dsports tourism markets and added foreign language broadcast coverage to help spnsors reach more consumer audiences.
Brazil, host country of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games, has presented three X-Games finalists -- Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Foz do Iguacu. Sao Paulo just hosted the Maccabi Games earlier this month and Rio de Janeiro gained sports event expertise as host of the 2007 Pan American Games. Foz do Iguacu is home to the renowned wonder of the world, Iguazu Falls, with nearby lake, canyon and jungle terrain that make it a magnet for action sports enthusiasts. The other Southern Hemisphere candidate city, Santiago, Chile, boasts a dozen microclimates nearby that present the rare opportunity to go ocean surfing and snowboarding in the same day. All four South American venues have climates well suited to rounding out the X-Games calendar with events during spring or autumn in the U.S.
Munich, Germany, host of the 1972 Summer Olympic Games, is featuring its newly renovated Olympic Park and arenas to promote its bid. Coastal cities on the Iberian Peninsula in Europe are also on the short list -- Lisbon, Portugal and Barcelona, Spain, host city of the 1992 Summer Olympic Games. Both cities are vying with reliable, sunny summer weather and many choices for accommodation and spectator facilities. This standard success formula will have to compete with an energetic newcomer to the world of major sports events, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Best known for the resort city of Cancun, this tropical paradise offers sun-drenched seascapes and inviting accommodations that are sure to please X-Games enthusiasts. X-Games experts will travel to all candidate cities to compare and contrast before announcing final decisions this spring.
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