“The UCI is very excited about the idea of having an official UCI BMX video game. I believe BMX racing, especially the BMX Supercross World Cup format, will adapt well to a video game format.”
The deal has also been welcomed by BMX riders, including New Zealander Sarah Walker, the 2009 UCI BMX Elite Women World Champion. “Technology is now part of everyday life, whether that is in the business world, professional life or sport. Having a video game for BMX will lift the profile of our sport and hopefully increase the number of riders and spectators," says Walker.
American Mike Day, silver medalist at the 2008 Olympic Games, is similarly enthusiastic. “I’m super pumped of the idea of seeing myself in a video game. I play a lot of video games and BMX Supercross will most definitely be great as a video game,” he says.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) has agreed to a deal with Interactive Licensing Management Ltd (ILM) to allow it to exclusively represent the rights linked to interactive entertainment for UCI BMX events (in particular the World Championships and BMX Supercross World Cup). The deal concerns all interactive platforms (notably video games) which will feature a large number of the best BMX riders in the world, existing tracks and images – approved – of UCI events. David Colley, Managing Director of ILM is very pleased with the deal: “We are delighted to be working with the UCI,” he said. “The growing TV coverage of BMX and its recognition by the IOC as an Olympic event shows that it is developing rapidly. This is thanks to the grass roots development and commitment of the UCI. Now is the perfect time for the sport to make its official entry into the interactive arena.”
Johan Lindström, the UCI’s BMX Sports Coordinator added,
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.