Could this be the site for the Winter X Games?

In a real coup for the resort, Tignes has been unofficially announced as the winner in the bid to host the first ever Europe Winter X Games in 2010.

American TV channel ESPN has been organising the American X Games events in both summer and winter for many years and the events have become the biggest in the ‘extreme sports’ calendar, attracting all the major sporting names. The resort of Aspen is set to host the Winter X Games until 2012 and this brand new event in Europe aims to be a full, major X Games event in its own right.

French TV channel Canal+ is teaming up with ESPN to organise the Europe X Gamest, which, although no dates have been set, is thought to be pencilled in for mid-March 2010. Tignes will see a huge media circus descend on the resort, along with best freestyle skiers and boarders in the world at the moment.

Both slopestyle and pipe competitions will run, for men and women, ski and snowboard. It is also thought there will be a FMX (freestyle motorcross) demo event. Organisers expect the event to be as big as the US Winter X Games within three years.

It is alleged that Tignes, who has successfully organised big events such as the Tignes Airwaves, was chosen after a delegation from Canal+ and ESPN visited a number of resorts, including Avoriaz, Les Arcs and La Clusaz.

Photo: Cole Barash

We will bring you more details and the exact dates when they’re known.

From: Verbier Resort News