Summer X Games: Minneapolis Action

May 6, 2017 by

Minneapolis Hosts June’s Summer X Games 2017

Whilst Australia’s older online betting fans enjoy the US Open golf, played at Erin Hills in Wisconsin in mid-June, younger Aussie punters will probably shift their attention one US state to the west. Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the city chosen to host this year’s ESPN Summer X Games, an extreme sports event that has been around since 1995.

Dedicated to BMX, skateboarding and Moto X, the Summer X Games are a testimony to the changing face of modern sport. The annual event attracts large crowds in urban centres, and televised broadcasts by ESPN and ABC, as well as footage online, has a huge global following.

Inaugurated in Newport, Rhode Island, the X Games have been hosted by several cities over the years, although they were ensconced in Austin, Texas from 2014-16. When that three-year contract ran its course, the bidding was opened to other cities, and Minnesota won the 2017 event over competitors like Long Island, New York, Providence, Rhode Island and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Progressive Ethos in Modern Sport

Extreme sports have always attracted outsiders and non-conformists; for many young athletes, they are the antithesis of the jock culture prevalent in so many mainstream sports. The Summer X Games, true to the questioning culture adopted by so many extreme-sports fans, from Generation X-ers to millennials, have a decidedly progressive ethos.

Eco-consciousness is one expression of that mindset; all X Games vehicles run on renewable bio-fuel, for example. The 2017 Summer X Games’ Shred Hate initiative is another example, getting extreme sports icons and fans involved in the fight against bullying. A commitment to social and environmental justice can go hand-in-hand with a dedication to radical thrills and hard partying, as extreme sports stars like Tony Hawk, Travis Pastrana and Australia’s Ryan “R Willy” Williams have demonstrated.

Betting enthusiasts and extreme sports fans can catch all the action at Minneapolis’ US Bank Stadium from 13-16 June.

Jennie Martin

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After completing her degree, Jennie Martin began her journalism career by working as an intern on the entertainment pages. However, her passion for sport was quickly noticed, and she began covering local events.
She now puts her considerable expertise and more than a decades worth of experience to good use, keeping readers up to date on Australian and international sports betting news.
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