The First X Games Are Held

Setting the scene

Extreme sports athletes competed in niche contests with little TV money, while ESPN sought fresh programming that could attract younger viewers tired of traditional stick-and-ball coverage.

What happened

The first X Games were held in June 1995 in Newport, Providence, and Middletown, Rhode Island, featuring skateboarding, BMX, motocross, and bungie stunts broadcast on ESPN.

Why it still matters

The X Games turned skateboarding and BMX into mainstream sports-media properties and launched careers for Tony Hawk and dozens of action-sports icons. Memorable detail: the inaugural event was originally branded "The Extreme Games" before the X Games name stuck.

Background

Skateboarding and BMX entered mainstream sports media.