X Games one step closer to Oslo, Norway
Athletes from Norway have left an indelible mark at the X Games, collecting 53 X Games medals, including 16 gold, 17 silver and 20 bronze.
The city of Oslo, Norway, voted this week to approve funding towards hosting a winter X Games event in 2016. If approved, it would be the first time X Games has been held in a Scandinavian country. At a meeting held April 29 at Oslo's City Hall, the City Council declared a majority vote in support of holding the ESPN action sports event, likely to take place in February 2016. (The event would not replace X Games Aspen, which is slated to continue in the Colorado mountain town through at least 2019).
ESPN and TV 2, Norway's largest commercial television station, are now in discussions to reach an official agreement on the event.
Next year, Norwegian Women's Snowboard Slopestyle competitor Silje Norendal may be competing on home turf at an X Games event in Oslo, Norway.
"We're very excited with the result of this week's vote and commend the work that the Oslo city government and others have put in to reach this point," said Tim Reed, vice president of X Games. "This week was a big next step. We're now looking forward to getting to work with local organizers and TV 2 to try and reach an agreement. We're optimistic about those discussions and the final push toward a potential X Games event in Oslo."
Representatives from Norway's TV 2 met with the country's ski and snowboard federations to gain their support before coming up with the proposal for Oslo to host X Games, drafting and submitting an application and budget to the city earlier this year. "We are pleased to see that a majority of the City Council voted to support our application and the city government proposal," said Jan Ove Aarsaether, director of sports for TV 2.
X Games destinations, 1995 - 2020
On the road with X Games
So you think X Games is just a twice a year event that happens in Aspen, Colorado and Minneapolis, Minnesota? Think again. X Games has traveled the world, and brought the world of action sports to Europe, Asia, South America and destinations throughout North America.
On the road with X Games
1995: Newport, Rhode Island
1997: San Diego, California
2000: Mount Snow, Vermont
2000: Phuket, Thailand
2002: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2005: Seoul, Korea
2007: Dubai, U.A.E.
2008: Mexico City, Mexico
2008: San Diego, California
2012: Los Angeles, California
2012: Shanghai, China
2013: Tignes, France
2013: Barcelona, Spain
2013: Foz Do Iguacu, Brazil
2013: Munich, Germany
2014: Austin, Texas
2017: Minneapolis, Minnesota
2018: Skur 13, Oslo, Norway
2018: Oslo, Norway
2018: Sydney, Australia
2019: Shanghai, China
Where next?
"We are optimistic as we work with the X Games to reach a final agreement for an annual, world-class event in Oslo." Although Norway has never hosted an X Games before, many Norwegian athletes have long-since participated in the event, including snowboarders Terje Håkonsen, Ståle Sandbech, and three-time gold medalists Silje Norendal and Torstein Horgmo, plus skiers PK Hunder and gold medalists Tiril Sjåstad Christiansen and Andreas Håtveit.
"It would be absolutely amazing for Oslo to host the X Games next year," says Sjåstad Christiansen. "Norway has so many great athletes, both snowboarders and skiers, but no big international competitions. Plus, we're a country where people love to volunteer, and they show passion and love for their country and especially winter sports."
Use a Facebook account to add a comment, subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment, and may be used on ESPN's media platforms. Learn more