Sunday marked the conclusion of the 43rd Défi sportif AlterGo, as the final matches of the Montreal 2026 World Boccia Cup, the International Power Soccer Invitational Tournament, and the wheelchair basketball competition wound down.
And although Canada’s boccia team did not qualify for the pairs’ finals, boccia player Alison Levine, our 2026 athlete ambassador, will take away fond memories of this year’s World Cup.
“Normally, when a competition doesn’t go my way, I try to forget about it quickly. But not this time. It was a wonderful experience, and I was proud to be an ambassador. This competition is very focused on the athletes. I’ve been very proud to show the international community the things my hometown is doing, that the Défi sportif AlterGo exists, and what we can accomplish here in Montreal.”
Although the 44th annual Défi sportif AlterGo won’t begin until April 23 of next year, big things are in the works between now and then.
The À vos marques! Tour
When the Défi sportif AlterGo comes to a close, it means the À vos marques! Tour, its sister event that travels to Quebec’s more remote regions, is about to begin.
And this year, the Tour is bigger than ever! Between May 7 and June 11, it will visit 8 regions in Quebec: Mauricie, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Chaudière–Appalaches, Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, the Côte-Nord, Abitibi–Témiscamingue, and, for the first time, the Upper Laurentians.
The À vos marques! Tour features track & field and wheelchair slalom events for people of all ages, with all types of disabilities. The goal of the tour is to encourage people with disabilities from all across Quebec to stay active throughout the year, by providing them with an event to train for.
The OneAbility Games
Something new and exciting is taking shape outside of Quebec: In a few days, the OneAbility Games—the very first event inspired by the Défi sportif AlterGo to be held in another part of Canada—will begin.
From May 13 to 17, the event will bring together nearly 1,000 athletes in Richmond, British Columbia.
AlterGo has been partnering with the OneAbility organizing team to create the spin-off event. For three years, the OneAbility team has attended the Défi sportif AlterGo, and this year, the British Columbian event is finally being launched.
“It’s a dream that Monique [Lefebvre, founder of the Défi sportif AlterGo] and I have shared—to see Défi sportif-type events take place in other communities across Canada. It’s important, because it’s a way to get more young people moving, all across the country. The OneAbility Games had a target of 500 registrations in the first year, but almost 1,000 young people have signed up. So there’s clearly a need” explained Maxime Gagnon, president and CEO of AlterGo.
Meanwhile, the SPVM (Montreal Police Service) Cycling Tour departed Quebec on April 28 to ride across Canada. The 18 cyclists are raising funds not only to support the continued development of the Défi sportif AlterGo, but also to help fund the inaugural OneAbility Games. The cyclists will arrive in Richmond just in time to attend the opening of the British Columbian event.
Toward a national adapted sports movement
According to Gagnon, the ultimate goal is to create a movement—a pan-Canadian network that will provide parasport opportunities to athletes with disabilities, both young and old, all across the country.
“We want to open the door to other provinces, be it New Brunswick, Ontario, or Alberta. We want all Canadians to understand that young people with disabilities need to move,” he affirmed.
Another goal is to enable national sports organizations to host Canadian parasport championships, with the support and expertise of people who are familiar with the needs of the participants.
All of the above with the aim of better showcasing the potential of the athletes, all across the country.
Big plans for the future
With just a couple of years to go until the 45th Défi sportif AlterGo, Gagnon and the AlterGo team have big plans to continue to expand the event’s scope. One of their goals is to offer even more sports disciplines.
“Certain sports may make their debut… or their comeback. We miss the para-cycling events we used to hold. And for 10 years, we hosted a fencing World Cup. We’re also open to other sports. Goalball, for example, which we had a long time ago. There are several sports like that… sports we’d love to bring in, at both the national and international levels,” concluded Gagnon.
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