On Tuesday, during an event hosted by Jean-Marie Lapointe and Hugo Girard at Hôtel Universel Montréal, Défi sportif AlterGo revealed its 37th edition programming and athlete ambassadors. The organization also took this opportunity to present the new revamped website to the athletes, volunteers and partners who were present.
From April 24th to May 3rd, over 8,000 athletes will participate in the largest annual multi-sport event in the country. Défi sportif AlterGo is the only international event that has been bringing together elite and up-and-coming athletes with all forms of functional limitations for the past 37 years.
“This year, the event is expanding and will take place at nine competition sites—three more than last year—in Montréal, Laval and on the South Shore. There will be something for everyone, from precision sports to contact sports and activities for the very young. Admission to all the competitions is free, so I encourage everyone to attend,” said Maxime Gagnon, AlterGo’s Chief Executive Officer.
Athlete Ambassadors
Défi sportif AlterGo introduced the new faces who will act as athlete ambassadors for its 37th edition. The organization chose athletes from different sports and levels of competition who have various functional limitations: Mélanie Labelle, wheelchair rugby, Alison Levine, boccia, Matthieu Croteau-Daigle and his pilot Michel Jean, paracycling, Woody Belfort, wheelchair basketball, Rosalie Ianieri, parahockey, and Adam Forest Espinal, CrossFit.
“I am very proud to contribute to Défi sportif AlterGo’s visibility. I have been participating since I was 16 years old and over the years, I have climbed the ranks to now find myself in first place in the world rankings,” declared Alison Levine, boccia athlete in the BC4 category.
Must See Competitions
Again this year, Défi sportif AlterGo will present high-level competitions a few months before the Tokyo Paralympic Games. Some of these competitions are the last chance for athletes to qualify or prepare for the Paralympic Games. First, nearly 100 boccia athletes from about 20 countries will compete in the BISFed World Open. The competition will take place at Place Bell in Laval, which will serve as one of Défi sportif AlterGo’s host sites for the first time. The elite will rub shoulders with the next generation of boccia athletes as both school and national level boccia competitions will also be held at this site. Still at the international level, the International Cycling Union paracycling events, presented in collaboration with Cycling Canada and the Fédération québécoise des sports cyclistes, are returning to the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Parc Jean-Drapeau, on May 2nd and 3rd.
Moreover, for the first time in its history, Défi sportif AlterGo is adding the pan-American basketball and tennis tournaments for the hearing impaired to its programming, thanks to the collaboration of the Canadian Deaf Sports Association.
Also, for the second consecutive year, the best Canadian teams will compete for the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship in Boucherville, presented in collaboration with Curling Canada. Finally, intensity will reach new heights from May 1st to 3rd when Montréal’s Patro le Prévost will host the National Wheelchair Rugby Championships, presented in collaboration with the Canadian Wheelchair Rugby Federation and Parasports Québec.
The Website
Défi Sportif Altergo launched its new website intended to enhance visitor experience. The way of navigating the website was redesigned with each visitor in mind. For example, the “Schedule and Results” section was improved to allow searches by sport, competition site and date. A new section was also created to learn more about the ambassador athletes. Athletes, volunteers, the media and spectators alike will be able to find their way around more easily! Many other changes have been made to improve the website. Check it out for yourself!
Défi sportif AlterGo is launching a new hashtag this year. It perfectly represents the spirit of the event and of its athletes, who blossom through sport. There is no limit to what they can accomplish.
#SansLimite
Use it to your heart’s content!
