TEXAS GOVERNOR OPENS ESPN X GAMES 2015

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott got ESPN X Games Austin 2015 rolling on Thursday evening at the Moto X Step Up competition in downtown Austin.

Abbott said a few words to the crowd who had gathered to watch the competition, which had been set up in front of the Texas Capitol on the streets of downtown Austin.

“Tonight I kicked off the X Games in Austin. Texas is proud to host the event,” Abbott posted on Twitter afterward.

During the festivities, Circuit of The Americas chairman Bobby Epstein presented Abbott with an X Games Austin hat and commemorative skateboard deck that features the iconic “Austin” postcard mural.

The X Games continue Saturday and Sunday at Circuit of The Americas.

Photos: ESPN Images