A successful hybrid edition for the Défi sportif AlterGo!
The 38th Défi sportif AlterGo had nearly 2,000 young people in schools moving with a reinvented hybrid version, from April 23rd to May 2nd, 2021. The community gathered all week around virtual events broadcast on the organization’s Facebook page.
Several honored guests participated in the Hybrid Défi sportif AlterGo 2021, including the Honorable Steven Guilbeault, Quebec Premier François Legault, Minister of Education Isabelle Charest and Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.
To date, more than 4,000 people have viewed the opening ceremony, which took place last Monday. Défi sportif AlterGo regulars found their faithful spokesperson Jean-Marie Lapointe as host. Nancy Audet, the event’s new ambassador, met her first challenge by brilliantly hosting the De la relève à l’élite panel, presented by RDS. Then, we were inspired by the strength of character of the Olympic sport actors during the panel En route vers les Jeux paralympiques, presented by Loto-Québec.
“From morning warm-ups with Hugo Girard, one of the spokespersons, to inspiring testimonials from elite athletes or virtual bingo with the volunteers, the 2021 program was meant to be diversified to bring together the entire Défi sportif AlterGo community. Like every year, the community was positioned to support the athletes despite the confinement of the sport,” said Maxime Gagnon, CEO of AlterGo.
The Défi sportif AlterGo community also demonstrated its creativity during the virtual Boccia Challenge, presented in collaboration with the Association québécoise des sports pour paralytiques cérébraux and Boccia Canada. Participants were invited to create a challenge and challenge 2 other people on social media. We were treated to some impressive achievements!
The virtual program was complemented by a virtual exhibition that presents the history of the Défi sportif AlterGo since its creation. This exhibition will remain online for the curious who want to discover adapted sports or to recall beautiful memories!
All the virtual events are also available in replay on the AlterGo Facebook page.
ACTION IN THE SCHOOLS!
Once again, the athletes of the school component have surpassed themselves by carrying out sports events in their schools or rehabilitation centers. Twenty-five schools participated in the 2021 edition, 19 of which organized their own mini-marathon. The mini-marathon is one of the flagship events of the school component of the Défi sportif AlterGo. This year, the event was presented in a new way, while respecting health regulations. The athletes were energized and very excited to run their race!
The young people also had the opportunity to train before the event thanks to the virtual sports program “En route vers le Défi sportif AlterGo 2021”. The Défi sportif AlterGo team is proud to have had nearly 600 young people from 14 schools moving with this initiative. Because moving is an essential need, young people with functional limitations from all over Quebec were invited to perform different adapted sports individually at home or in their classroom bubble.
FIRST EDITION OF THE GALA
The organization announces the presentation of the first Défi sportif AlterGo Gala, which will take place on June 1st, 2021, at 7:00 pm. This Gala is designed to reward the participants of the school component of the Défi sportif AlterGo. It is an event that will be held annually, at the end of the school year, to recognize the efforts and athletic achievements of student-athletes with a functional limitation as well as their caregivers and schools. The Gala will be broadcasted live on the AlterGo Facebook page. Join us!
The Défi sportif AlterGo thanks all of its partners who supported the event, thus contributing to offer young people with a functional limitation opportunities to be active in times of pandemic and to make sport accessible.
See you at the 39th edition from April 22nd to May 1st, 2022, and hope that we will all be back together, in person!
