The 41st Défi Sportif AlterGo is now underway! And what better way to kick things off than with one of our flagship events: the mini-marathon!
Jarry Park hosts 1,070 school athletes for the mini-marathon
Today, more than 1,000 athletes from some 30 schools across Quebec gathered at Jarry Park for the Défi Sportif AlterGo’s mini-marathon. Races were held for young people of all ages, with distances ranging from 500 m to 3 km. Racers took part on foot, in wheelchairs, on tricycles, and on adapted bicycles. All of them were there to push their limits.
“It’s very encouraging to see our students being active. These are students for whom it would be very easy to remain sedentary,” said one teacher from École des Rives in Terrebonne. “This gets them motivated, it encourages them to challenge themselves, and it’s good for their self-confidence. In some cases, it even allows us to see a side of them we don’t get to see in class.”
Andrés Fontecilla, MNA for Laurier-Dorion, and Gustave Roël, president and CEO of the Réseau du Sport Étudiant du Québec, were on hand to cheer on the students, along with our spokesperson, Jean-Marie Lapointe.
Boccia players, from the up-and-coming to the elite, promise exciting competitions
Just south of the city, 19 elementary and high school boccia players from five different schools across Quebec squared off at the Maurice-Richard Arena. Anne-Carla Augustin, a frequent Défi Sportif AlterGo participant, took part in the boccia competition for the first time. “I love this event. My dream is to become famous and show people that even though we may have disabilities, we’re still able to do this.”
Canada’s top boccia players, with representatives from British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador, were also in action at the arena.
Montréal’s junior para hockey teams break the ice at the Howie-Morenz Arena
Montréal’s junior para hockey players have been divided into 2 teams, the Whites and the Greys, to take on teams from Hamilton and Brampton, Ontario, at the Howie-Morenz Arena. To kick off the tournament, the 2 Quebec teams played against each other.
Later this evening, players from the national para hockey team will join players from Team Quebec for a two-game series against China. The puck drops at 9:00 p.m.
Boccia and para hockey ahead of the official opening of the Défi Sportif AlterGo
The national boccia competition will continue on Day 2 of the Défi Sportif AlterGo, while Montréal’s young para hockey players take on teams from Ontario. The school athletes will be back in action on Monday, April 29, for the official opening ceremonies of the Défi Sportif AlterGo, at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex.
