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Calgary is stepping into the extreme sports arena with talks to host the Winter X Games for at least the next three years.

The city has secured exclusive rights to host the event in 2020 through 2022, subject to securing corporate sponsorship.

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Mayor Naheed Nenshi made the announcement alongside provincial Culture and Tourism Minister Ricardo Miranda and Cindy Ady, Tourism Calgary CEO.

“We’re excited to be taking this step toward hosting the first X Games on Canadian snow,” Nenshi said. “It’s about bringing Calgary to a world stage. The economic spinoffs are significant, and support our plans for tourism and economic development.”

The city, through Tourism Calgary, will invest $1.8 million per year for three years to support the Winter X Games.

Miranda said the deal is “years in the making,” and the province has committed $13.5 million to hosting the event for the next three years.

“This would be a fantastic opportunity to show Alberta to the world, showcasing not only our amazing athletes and facilities, but our artists and culture as well,” he said.