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ESPN X Games will kick off the first of this year’s four summer events with X Games Foz do Iguaçu – the first new event of the global expansion – and has released the first wave of invited athletes.  The inaugural competition, taking place April 18-21, will feature more than 200 athletes competing for medals and prize money in the sports of Skateboard, BMX, RallyCross and Moto X.  The subtropical city of Foz do Iguaçu is one of Brazil’s most-frequented tourist destinations and home to Iguaçu Falls, which will serve as one of the most unique backdrops ever for an X Games Vert competition.  ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise 23 hours of original content in high definition and WatchESPN will stream all of the coverage in the U.S.

The first wave of invited athletes include:

• Pedro Barros (Florianapolis, Brazil) – Winning nearly every competition he entered in 2012, Pedro Barros is the latest versatile skater to come from the Brazilian scene, and is a threat to medal in any competition he’s skating in.  As the X Games Los Angeles 2012 defending gold medalist in Skateboard Park, Barros will be one to watch at X Games Foz do Iguaçu 2013.

• Brian Deegan (Bellevue, Nebraska) – As one of the most versatile and recognizable athletes in action sports, Deegan has earned 10 X Games medals in Moto X and made the transition to four wheels – garnering an additional four medals in X Games Rally Car disciplines since 2009.  Brian will attempt to continue his winning ways in RallyCross at X Games Foz do Iguaçu.

• Bob Burnquist (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) – Defending X Games Los Angeles Big Air gold medalist Bob Burnquist is one of the most innovative and versatile skaters in the world, having amassed 22 X Games medals – tying him for second all-time in X Games history.  As one of just four veteran athletes who has competed at every X Games, Burnquist will attempt to add to his medal haul in both Big Air and Vert disciplines.

• Ryan Nyquist (San Jose, California) – Four-time X Games gold medalist Ryan Nyquist is coming off a silver medal performance from X Games Los Angeles 2012 in BMX Park and is one of the most-medaled BMX riders in X Games history.  Nyquist is a double threat competing in BMX Park and in the highly anticipated return of the BMX Dirt competition.

• Taka Higashino (Osaka, Japan) – After moving to the States in 2006 to focus full-time on his motocross career, Taka had his breakout year at X Games Los Angeles 2012 by winning two medals, including Moto X Freestyle gold.  Higashino has been at the top of his game and will attempt to continue his success in Foz do Iguaçu this April.

• Leticia Bufoni (Sao Paulo, Brazil) – As one of the most up-and-coming young street skaters after finishing first in the year-end World Cup Skateboarding rankings in 2010 and 2011, Bufoni is a two-time X Games medalist.  In her 2012 X Games Los Angeles appearance, Leticia won silver in Women’s Skateboard Street and will look to upgrade to gold in her home country at X Games Foz do Iguaçu.

The full list of first wave athletes invited to compete at X Games Foz do Iguaçu 2013 is available at www.xgames.com.

*PLEASE NOTE: The invited athlete list is constantly being updated and is subject to change.

Tickets for X Games Foz do Iguaçu 2013 are available for purchase at www.Livepass.com.br/XGames.

Additional information on all X Games Foz do Iguaçu events will be forthcoming on www.xgames.com.br for fans or on www.espnmediazone.com for media only.

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Contact:          

Alesha Sands                ESPN Communications, 310-642-1533; [email protected]

Ardi Dwornik                 ESPN International, 646-547-5612; [email protected]

Luiz Pattoli                    Ideal Agencia, +55 11 4873-7922; [email protected]