Jean Allard discovered the Défi sportif AlterGo while working for the City of Montreal at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex. At the time, Allard was not only a facilities attendant; he was also a talented sports commentator who had covered the Olympic Games in Athens and Beijing, among other events.
And since 2023, Allard has been lending his impressive experience to the Défi sportif AlterGo, as a commentator and master of ceremonies.
We spoke to him about his career path and why he feels it is important to come back each year.
How did you discover your love for sports commentary?
When I was very young, my two idols were Claude Mouton and Richard Morency, the commentators for the Canadiens and the Expos. Without realizing it would one day become a career, I would call out Guy Lafleur’s goals and the Expos’ plays. When I watched the All-Star Games on TV, the player introductions were more important to me than the game itself.
So, it was more than just a second career—it was a childhood dream? How did it come about?
I first picked up the mic when I was 17, announcing the games for my friends who played junior baseball for the Ahuntsic Orioles. Then, from 1984 to 2000, I covered junior baseball in the summer and junior hockey in the winter.
In 2000, I had the privilege of covering the Women’s 4 Nations Hockey Cup, which included Canada, the United States, and Finland. I sat down with the Finnish players to make sure I pronounced their names correctly. That got me hooked.
In 2002, I covered the junior baseball World Championships in Sherbrooke and Coaticook, and there were some people from the federation there. Two years later, in 2004, I covered my first Olympic Games in Athens, as a baseball announcer.
When you’re covering a game, what is the most important thing to you?
Pronouncing the names correctly. I always ask how the names should be pronounced. Because for those who travel a lot—athletes, players—their names are not always pronounced the same way.
So for every country, I always try to do the same thing: sit down with the liaison officers or the country’s communications team, repeat back what they tell me, and take notes using my own phonetic system. And then I practise. That’s what we’re there for. And I enjoy doing it.
What memory stands out the most for you as a commentator?
There are several! One of my earliest ones was during Canada’s first baseball game in Athens.
One of the Canadian players was a guy named Pierre-Luc Laforest. He was from Gatineau, but he had been playing professional baseball in the USA for 10 years, working his way up the ranks. He went by the name Pete Laforest—it was even written on his bat.
At his first at-bat, I said, “Now batting for Canada, number 30, catcher Pierre-Luc Laforest.” He stepped out of the batter’s box, looked at me, tipped his cap, then stepped back into the box. I still have his bat at home.
Do you have any memories of your first Défi sportif AlterGo events as a city employee?
I remember watching the wheelchair basketball players compete for their provincial teams. The best players in Canada were there: Patrick Henderson for Ontario, Dave Durepos for New Brunswick, David Eng for Quebec, Richard Peter for British Columbia.
I watched those guys play for their provincial teams, and then later, I had the privilege of doing the play-by-plays for wheelchair basketball at the Beijing Summer Paralympics. There, I got to see those same guys all playing together, on the same team. The best in the world. I just fell in love with them.
Has your involvement with the Défi sportif AlterGo opened any doors for you in your career?
Definitely. As I always say, volunteering pays off! In 2023, I emceed the opening ceremonies of the World Boccia Cup, and Jon Morgan from World Boccia was right beside me. After the closing ceremonies, I asked him if he wanted my résumé, and he said, “No, we have everything we need.” Then, in 2024, I found myself announcing boccia in Paris!
How was your experience in Paris?
The atmosphere was incredible! The stands were packed, and when the French players were on the field, the crowd sang “La Marseillaise” and chanted, “Allez, les bleus!”
Why do you come back to the Défi sportif AlterGo year after year?
It’s about giving back. I do it every year, and I always enjoy coming back. I love doing these kinds of things—ceremonies, and other events that require a bit more pomp, like medal presentations. I always enjoy coming back.
This year our slogan is “Anything is possible.” Do you feel that is true at the Défi sportif AlterGo?
Yes. It’s true for me, and I especially hope it’s true for the athletes—even the youngest ones, the next generation. I hope it inspires them.
