MONTREAL, April 16, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Défi sportif AlterGo (DSA), presented by Hydro-Québec, holds the promise for exciting performances between April 23 and April 29, 2012. As the new slogan says, the participants are "more than athletes" through their resilience and their happiness of living. This year, some 4000 athletes of all disabilities will be on the six competition sites in Montréal and Longueuil. The school component athletes, the emerging athletes and the élite will mix during this world unique event, which will gather sportspeople from 15 countries or so.
As the London Paralympic Games are nearing, some of the best wheelchair fencers will be on hand. The DSA will once again host the Wheelchair Fencing World Cup from the 27th to the 29th of April at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard.
At the same time, at Centre Pierre-Charbonneau, the Coloplast Canadian Wheelchair Rugby Championships will feature the best Canadian players. The rugby SUPER FINAL will close the Défi sportif AlterGo with an adrenalin-filled event on April 29 at 2 P.M. Before the start of the game, the line-up of the team that will represent the country at the London Paralympics will be announced. The event promises robust and testosterone-filled play!
"The public present at the Défi sportif will be impressed by the athletes, not because of their disability, but because of the show and the performance they will put on!" Chantal Petitclerc, DSA spokesperson maintains.
Explosion of school sports
This year, close to 3000 young Quebecers with functional limitations will represent their school or rehabilitation centre at the Défi sportif. The school component is so popular, that again this year the organization has added a fifth day. Plus, with the help and financial support from Québec en forme, the Défi sportif now has the resources to promote healthy life habits (sports development, active lifestyle and healthy eating) with that clientele. The number of registrations in the school competitions will reach new heights in 2012, with record participation in rhythmic gymnastics and boccia in particular.
Many sporting disciplines on the card
On Friday April 27 and Saturday April 28, the paracycling competitions sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale will be presented at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
Powerchair football was a great success last year at the Défi sportif and will be back for a second year as an international Invitation tournament. It will play out in Longueuil, at Collège Édouard-Montpetit, which will also host the wheelchair basketball tourney. The boccia competition at Maurice-Richard arena will also welcome participants from many countries.
In total, 13 different sports will be featured this year so that everyone will find something to their taste at the Défi sportif! "With the school age youngsters rubbing elbows with the up-and-coming hopefuls and the veteran Paralympians, in various sports, it can be said that the Défi sportif is a reference in terms of adapted sports!" maintains Maxime Gagnon, DSA director. "The Défi sportif welcomes athletes with all disabilities, intellectual, motor, visual, auditory, mental, speech or language difficulty and pervasive developmental disorder. They don't always have the opportunity to compete in large scale events. We want those athletes to shine and we invite the public to come and be introduced to impressive sports.
So, it's a date at the 29th edition of the Défi sportif AlterGo, to experience unique moments, not only on a sporting level, but on a human level also: "At the Défi sportif, you witness small miracles, examples of determination… Everybody benefits from seeing that!" declares Jean-Marie Lapointe, other DSA spokesperson.
A significant contribution
And let's not forget that recently, the Quebec's Government confirmed, in the 2012-2013 Quebec budget, a financial support of $500,000 per year for the next three years. This gesture is intended to encourage the disabled athletes from everywhere in Quebec to participate in Défi sportif. "This recognition testifies the contribution of Défi sportif, since 29 years, to the developpement of adapted sports in Quebec and of the work in favor of the social inclusion of disabled people. We appreciated it a lot and it stimulates us to organize in 2012 a 30th edition who will mark the history of the DSA" emphasizes the president, Raymond Palmer.
Important partners
The Défi sportif AlterGo can count on over 900 volunteers, more than 50% of whom are returning for at least a second year; many total over 10 years of commitment. Nearly 100 financial partners from the private sector add themselves to those important collaborators. The City of Montréal, the Gouvernement du Québec and the Government of Canada are regular financial backers.
About the Défi sportif AlterGo
Unique in the world, the Défi sportif is an international event that gathers emerging as well as elite athletes with all disabilities. From April 23 to April 29, 2012, over 4000 athletes from about fifteen countries will meet for seven days of competition in Montréal and Longueuil. Presented by Hydro-Québec, the 29th Défi sportif AlterGo is organized by AlterGo, a grouping of about one hundred organizations working for the social inclusion of people with disabilities through leisure.
Image with caption: "Back row, left to right : Raymond Palmer, President - Défi Sportif AlterGo, Joanne Chevrier, Communications and Marketing chief - Hydro-Québec, Maxime Gagnon, Director - Défi Sportif AlterGo, Monique Lefebvre, Founder - Défi Sportif AlterGo. Henry Stoorgard, CEO CPC. Front row, left to right: Jean-Marie Lapointe, Spokesperson with athletes Estevenson Ambroise, Alison Levine and Gabriel Authier (CNW Group/DEFI SPORTIF)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120416_C6082_PHOTO_EN_12369.jpg
Source:
Défi sportif AlterGo
Information:
Alexandre Lainesse
High Road Communications
Tel.: 514 908-0110, ext. 310
Cell.: 514 816-4519
[email protected]
Share this article