ESPN X Games Event Possible In the Cayman Islands

by Brian Buckley

Wednesday, July 28, 2004

ESPN, the international cable sports television network, recently signed a letter of intent to film an X Games sporting event with Cayman Grand Harbour at its soon-to-be-completed skate park at the development.

The X Games, which has been staged for ten years now, feature higher-risk “extreme” stunt sports like skateboarding, motorcycle racing and surfing.

Marketing Manager Norm Belanger said Cayman Grand Harbour is currently in talks with three traveling X-Game type ventures in an attempt to secure a contract with specified dates for one of the groups to host an X-Games event at the skate park. “We’re trying to get one of the X-Games firms on board and then get back to ESPN,” said Mr Belanger “If ESPN doesn’t agree, we’ll definitely get some event out here, perhaps an Actions Sports Television event.”

The skate park, whose official opening could come by the end of September, is designed to have both a flow and a street course. The flow course resembles a large swimming pool with curved walls, while the street course contains stairs and railings upon which skaters can slide. Three quarters of the work on the park has been completed according to Mr Belanger.

“At the same time we are also speaking with several DVD production companies for the filming of additional footage here. The films highlight skateboarding, but also include the perks of the local culture and local flavour. We continue to talk with 411, one of the premier skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding film companies,” said Mr Belanger.

Tentative plans for the opening of both the skate and surf park call for a soft opening for local youth interested in the activities sometime in early September. A grander opening will seek to coincide with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s Eleventh Annual Caribbean Cruise Conference and Trade Show slated for the week of 4- 8 October 2004.

Back...

Click here for reader comments...