X Games

Updated August 28, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

The ESPN Extreme Games, originally envisioned as a biannual showcase for “alternative” sports, were first held June 24-July 1, 1995 in Newport and Providence, R.I. and Mt. Snow, Vt. The success of the inaugural event prompted organizers to make it an annual competition. Newport would again serve as host for the redubbed X Games in 1996. The X Games has evolved rapidly since its inception and have been held in several cities since. New sports and events have been added while others have been dropped.

In 1997, the first Winter X Games were held at Snow Summit Mountain Resort in Big Bear Lake, Calif. before moving to Crested Butte, Colo. in 1998. In 2006, ESPN signed a contract to keep the Winter X Games in Colorado through 2012.

Summer X Games sites: 1995-Newport/Providence, R.I. (and Mt. Snow, Vt.); 1996-Newport/Providence, R.I.; 1997- San Diego; 1998-San Diego; 1999-San Francisco; 2000-San Francisco; 2001-Phiadelphia; 2002-Philadelphia; 2003-Los Angeles; 2004-Los Angeles; 2005-Los Angeles; 2006-Los Angeles; 2007-Los Angeles; 2008-Los Angeles; 2009-New York, New York. Winter X Games sites: 1997-Snow Summit Mountain Resort, Big Bear Lake, Calif.; 1998- Crested Butte, Colo.; 1999-Crested Butte, Colo.; 2000- Mt. Snow, Vt.; 2001-Mt. Snow, Vt.; 2002-Aspen, Colo.; 2003-Aspen, Colo.; 2004-Aspen, Colo.; 2005-Aspen, Colo.; 2006-Aspen, Colo.; 2007-Aspen, Colo.; 2008-Aspen, Colo.; 2009-Aspen, Colo.