Athlete Prize Purse to Increase for 14th Consecutive Year; 2008 Global X Games Prize Purse to Exceed $3.3 Million

More than 200 of the world’s best action sports athletes will be competing at X Games 14 for $1.65 million dollars in prize money. ESPN has increased the prize purse each year of the 14-year event. With the overall purse for X Games 14 increased by six percent from last year, the total prize purse for all X Games events, domestically and internationally, to be held in 2008 now exceeds $3.3 million dollars. This year, X Games events will be held in Los Angeles, Mexico City, Dubai, Aspen, Sao Paulo and Shanghai. Globally, the X Games has awarded a total of more than $18 million in its 14-year history.

“ESPN is committed to ensuring that the best action sports athletes in the world are properly recognized for their incredible talents and efforts,” said Rick Alessandri, senior vice president, managing director, X Games franchise. “This increased prize purse allows us to give more money to all those competing in the event.”

Kevin Robinson, who will be competing in the BMX Big Air and Vert competitions at X Games 14 and has competed in every X Games held since the inception of the event in 1995 said, ”This year will be my 14th X Games, and it gets better every year. It’s good to see that ESPN understands the importance of making sure all of the athletes competing in the event get rewarded.”

Twenty hours of live X Games programming on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC – all showcased in high definition – will be aired July 31 – August 3, as well as on ESPN International, EXPN.com, ESPN Classic, ESPN360.com, SportsCenter and ESPN2’s X Center.