Asian X Games, a Ticket to Thrill

Inline skates, skateboards, and BMX (stunt bikes) will glide through the sky.

The Asian X Games 2005, the new major action sports, will be held for four days from May 26 – May 29 at the Jamsil Sports Complex and Hangang Jamwon area (wakeboarding event).

The Asian X Games, with its debut in 1998, has attracted an average of 100,000 people annually, being dubbed as the new generation’s festival.

The competition, supervised by Seoul Metropolitan city and sponsored by Kia Motors, will be held in Korea for the first time ever. It will comprise five action sports categories: inline skating, skateboarding, BMX, sports climbing, and wake boarding, along with Moto X, a motorcycle event. Though this competition is an Asian event, the level of performance skill will be first-class as athletes from all over the world are expected to participate. Two hundred athletes from 18 countries will be fighting for $140,000 prize money.

South Korea, the host nation of the competition, looks forward to winning at its strongest event, sports climbing. Son Sang-won (23), last year’s men category winner in the Asian X Games held in Malaysia, will strive for another victory, and newcomer Kim Ja-in (17) will challenge for first place among the women.

Meanwhile, the “Kia X Games Challenger Competition” for amateurs will also be held. The events include inline skating, skateboarding, and BMX.

Chang Jeon jeon@donga.com