Thirty Olympians Prepare for ESPN's First Winter X Games Europe

March 4, 2010

X Games images are available via ESPN X Games media website

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Torah Bright, Scotty Lago, Gretchen Bleiler and Peetu Piiroinen Among the Elite Line Up; Canal + to Provide Live Coverage

Winter X Games Europe, to be held March 10-12 in Tignes, France, will welcome 150 world-class athletes, including 30 past and present Olympians. In the first Winter X Games held outside the United States, athletes will vie for gold in eight events, including Men's and Women's Snowboard SuperPipe and Men's and Women's Snowboard Slopestyle.

Less than one month after competing in Vancouver, 27 snowboarders who represented their countries at the 2010 Winter Games will compete at Winter X Games Europe, including three halfpipe medalists. In addition, several athletes who will compete at this year's Winter X Games Europe have competed in previous Olympics dating back to the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.

"We are so pleased to welcome all the athletes to ESPN's first Winter X Games Europe," said Rick Alessandri, senior vice president and managing director, X Games franchise. "We also would like to congratulate all those action sports athletes who competed in Vancouver.  Your exceptional performances showed the world what we have known all along, and we look forward to seeing you compete in France."

For the complete, updated list of Winter X Games Europe athletes, log on to www.winterxgameseurope.com

*PLEASE NOTE: The invited athlete list is constantly being updated and is subject to change.

Among the Olympic athletes expected to compete:

• Gretchen Bleiler: Four-time and defending Winter X Games gold medalist and 2006 Winter Olympic silver medalist
• Torah Bright: Two-time Winter X Games gold medalist and 2010 Winter Olympic gold medalist
• Scotty Lago: Winter X Games 13 Snowboard Slopestyle silver medalist and 2010 Winter Olympic bronze medalist
• Peetu Piiroinen: Winter X Games competitor and 2010 Winter Olympic silver medalist
• Iouri Podladtchikov: Winter X Games 14 silver medalist, 2006 Winter Olympic competitor and 2010 Winter Olympic competitor
• Elena Hight: Winter X Games bronze medalist, 2006 Winter Olympic and 2010 Winter Olympic competitor.
• Louie Vito: Five-time Winter X Games athlete, 2010 Winter Olympic competitor

Together with CANAL + Networks (CANAL +, CANAL + SPORT, Sport +) and ESPN International, Winter X Games Europe will be broadcast in France and distributed to 166 countries and territories, including Latin America, Middle East, Pacific Rim, sub-Saharan Africa, Brazil, Israel, Caribbean, North America and Europe.

ESPN360.com and eight countries will broadcast Winter X Games Europe live March 10-12.

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Media Contacts:

ESPN X Games             

Katie Moses Swope, Katie.moses@espn.com, +1-310-339-4552

CANAL + Events           

Agence Olivia Payerne - contact@agence-op.fr - +33 (0) 1 46 04 08 62

Tignes Resort                       

Danièle Chaudan, dchaudan@tignes.net

Stéphanie Aillet, saillet@tignes.net,  +33 (4) 79400311