7 March 2011, Shanghai – The Year of the Dragon promises to usher another successful edition of the KIA X Games Asia (KXG), held in Shanghai for its sixth consecutive year from 28 Apr to 1 May 2012, with the return of the biggest action sports athletes to thrill fans once again at the biggest action sports competition in Asia.

The Dragon is the mightiest of all Chinese Zodiac signs, symbolizing drive, passion and is unafraid to take on challenges - values that many top successful action sports athletes embody. And this year’s event will continue the tradition of having a stellar line-up of top decorated international action sports stars.

Leading the list is seven-time X Games Skateboard gold medallist Pierre-Luc Gagnon, who will attempt to win his third Mini-MegaRamp title in just as many years. Accompanying him is eight-time gold medallist Andy Macdonald and two-time gold medallist Sandro Dias. Headlining a world-class BMX field are four-time X Games gold medallist Kevin Robinson, three-time gold medallist Chad Kagy, nine-time medallist Simon Tabron, six-time medallist Steven McCann and two-time X Games Asia gold medallist Vince Byron.

Additionally, one of the biggest draws among Asian fans is Japan’s high-flying Takeshi Yasutoko, who will attempt to win an unprecedented sixth-consecutive gold medal in the Aggressive Inline Vert – one for each year the competition has been held in Shanghai.

Last year’s event saw attendance records set yet again for a fifth consecutive year with 62,100 spectators over the course of four days of competition. Since 2007, the KIA X Games Asia has attracted more than 261,700 visitors and is expected to draw another large crowd this year in Shanghai.

Organised by ESPN STAR Sports’ Event Management and ESPN X Games with title sponsor Kia Motors, the KIA X Games Asia has earned a strong global reputation with a significant increase in awareness about action sports in the region. Action sport fans can catch the broadcast live on ESPN STAR Sports’ networks across Asia, including its broadband sports network ESPN Player, and on Shanghai Media Group’s Great Wall Sports. Additionally, the event will be telecast on ESPN International networks in the U.S., Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and Africa.

Visitors to this year’s KIA X Games Asia can also look forward to a festival atmosphere at X Fest, where many exciting entertainment and music performances await visitors at an interactive activity arena with games and prize giveaways. Some of the top entertainment acts this year include Anson An-Ping, Benny Jun Yan-Shao and the return of Astro Ding-Xiang and Andrew Zhi Lin-Cheung as the KIA X Games Asia Event Ambassador who wrote the event’s theme song, “Music is Magic” this year. The KIA X Games Asia 2012 will kick off four road shows leading up to the event on 10-11 March (Plaza of Superocean Xinzhuang Department Store), 24-25 March (Shanghai PC Online Plaza, Pudong District), 7-8 April (Zero Meter Square, The Oriental Pearl TV Tower Of Shanghai), 21-22 April (Wanda Plaza, Yangpu District).

“We are delighted to see KIA X Games Asia establish itself as an iconic sports event with our sponsors and being the Year of the Dragon, we are looking forward to another successful edition in Shanghai. The event has grown spectacularly over the years and this year again will feature an outstanding list of world-class athletes across all competitions. We look forward to showcasing another exhilarating event to our fans in Shanghai,” said Harvey Davis, ESPN STAR Sports Vice President, Event Management.

The 14th edition of Asia’s premiere action sports event will feature more than 150 athletes from more than 30 countries, treating fans to world-class competition in the sports of Skateboard, BMX, Aggressive In-Line Skate and Moto X Big Air demonstrations. This year’s competitors and spectators can also look forward to an added challenge with a newly designed street course that is expected to provide a treat for spectators.