MONTREAL, April 28, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The 31st edition of the Défi sportif AlterGo will reach new participation heights this year with over 5,200 elite and upcoming athletes signed up.
From April 28th thru May 4th, athletes with all types of deficiencies will take part in various competitions at 6 venues in Montreal and on the South Shore. Presented by Hydro Québec, the Défi sportif AlterGo has positioned Montreal as a Mecca for adapted sport.
"The Défi sportif AlterGo is a major sports event which Montreal, a city dedicated to sport, is honored to host year after year. The perseverance and incredible will to live of these athletes are a shining example to us all. Sport is not only a way to push their limits but also a strong means of social inclusion. Congratulations to all the athletes!", declared the mayor of Montreal, Mr. Denis Coderre.
Over the years, the Défi sportif AlterGo became a must for high-level athletes in various adapted sports, while attracting tens of thousands of school athletes. "If the Défi sportif AlterGo has become the major event it is today, it is due to the involvement of a 100 partners and of our 1,200 or so volunteers who, year after year, ensure its success", noted Défi sportif AlterGo Director, Mr. Maxime Gagnon. "High-caliber performances and strong emotions will combine throughout the week", added the Director.
National and international competitions
During the week, athletes from 25 countries will be vying for top honors in many disciplines. For the 1st time in Canada, the best boccia athletes will go head to head in the Boccia World Open sanctioned by BISFed (Boccia International Sports Federation). Also new this year, the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championships will be held for the first time in Quebec. Athletes from some 15 countries will be participating in the Wheelchair Fencing Grand Prix. The seated volleyball Super Finale will be the culminating point of the Défi sportif AlterGo, scheduled for Sunday May 4th at noon at the complexe sportif Claude-Robillard.
School athletes at the Défi sportif AlterGo
With over 90 schools from 12 regions of Quebec participating, the Défi sportif AlterGo will give an opportunity to thousands of young Quebeckers to compete and dream of a future in sport. The event is an opportunity for them to push their limits and to rub shoulders with elite athletes.
Come celebrate differences!
All through the week, the general public is invited to come see the many competitions. Visitors will also benefit from an entertainment area at the complexe sportif Claude-Robillard, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. where they can meet some paralympic athletes, try out different adapted sports and dance to the rhythms of Luca « Lazylegz » Patuelli and his team.
For more information and to view live webcasts of the competitions, visit the www.defisportif.com.
About the Défi sportif AlterGo
Since 1984, the Défi sportif AlterGo is organized by AlterGo, a group of Montreal organizations that promotes access to leisure, sport and culture for persons with functional limitations. This event contributes to the social inclusion of athletes with functional limitations and shines a light on universal accessibility.
SOURCE: Défi sportif AlterGo
Diane Jeannotte / Diep Truong, 514 772-8019 / 514 436-2121, [email protected] / [email protected]
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