Chengdu to host extreme sports festival

As part of events to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of ties between Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, and Montpellier in France, a festival of extreme sports will be held in Chengdu from Oct 24 to 26.

The 2014 FISE ((International Festival of Extreme Sports) will be organized by the Chengdu municipal government, the Chinese Extreme Sports Association, the Chengdu municipal sports bureau and the Hurricane Action Sports Company of France.

The FISE, first held in Montpellier in 1997, brings together the best international athletes in a number of categories, including skateboarding, BMX, and mountain bikes. Competitions will be held for both professionals and amateurs.

The event in the southern French city of Montpellier, draws more than 400,000 spectators each year. But the event in Chengdu will mark the first time it is being held outside France, said Tan Xuejun, head of the Chengdu municipal sports bureau.