X Games

X Games medals showcase aspects of culture unique to each location

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X Games medals are visible throughout the competitions: at the awards ceremonies, amidst news coverage and during athlete interviews. The expansion of the X Games to six venues has afforded ESPN the opportunity to showcase the unique culture of each location within the design of the X Games medals. The network commissioned designers to create X Games Medals specifically for Aspen; Barcelona; Foz do Iguacu, Brazil; Los Angeles; Tignes, France and Munich, which debuts as home to the action sports event airing Thursday through Sunday across ESPN platforms.

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“We want the X Games medals to be as unique and individualized as the cities in which the athletes are competing,” said Lizz Leach, senior manager of Sports & Competition.

Brian Kerr, senior manager of Event Management, has overseen the design of the medals awarded at the two domestic X Games locations, Aspen and Los Angeles. ESPN has allowed the international local organizing committees to design and produce — after approval from the Sports & Competition group — their own medals.

“We feel the action sports industry has more creativity and style, and we take pride in coming up with creative, fresh ideas to make the medals more individualistic,” Leach said.

Some of the local organizing committees have chosen an artistic style of design (Foz do Iguacu), whereas others have chosen to incorporate a symbolic representation of their city into the medals (Barcelona and Munich).

For example, the Barcelona design incorporates El Panot (Flower of Barcelona), the symbol of modernism in the city. By utilizing El Panot, which is carved into the city’s streets, the X Games’ urban connection is tied to the medal design. The Munich medal showcases the city’s skyline, highlighted by the Olympic Tower.

The X Games award medals are typically 3.5-by-4-inch diecast metal in gold, silver and bronze. Each custom medal design includes raised images, the event logo, location and year, with the sport discipline engraved on the back. The medal hangs from a 30-inch ribbon or chain.

“The athletes love the uniqueness of the X Games Medals which are highly coveted,” Leach said. “They are always excited to see the new design at each event.”

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