Since ESPN launched a formal bid process last May, ESPN received significant interest from around the world from cities vying to host an X Games. Official bids were due and submitted on January 2, 2012, and a few weeks later ESPN announced the following nine finalists who advanced to the next phase: Barcelona, Spain; Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil; Lisbon, Portugal; Munich, Germany; Quintana Roo, Mexico; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Santiago, Chile; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Whistler, Canada.