About Défi sportif AlterGo 2022
From April 22 to May 1, 4,000 athletes with functional limitations, both up-and-coming and elite, have met for the 39th Défi sportif AlterGo in Montreal and Longueuil. After 2 years of virtual and hybrid competitions due to the pandemic, the largest multi-sport event in Canada made a long awaited return in person in 2022.
The Défi sportif AlterGo 2022 offered a program including 3 components :
- A reduced face-to-face component, with provincial, national and international competitions for team and individual sports, as well as school competitions for team sports;
- A local face-to-face component, in schools and rehabilitation centers for individual school sports;
- A virtual component for rhythmic gymnastics competitions.
2022 included :
- 10 days of competition
- 6 provinces of Canada and 10 regions of Quebec
- The UCI Gary Longhi Para-cycling Challenge international event
- National events such as the Wheelchair Rugby National Championships, Boccia, Powerchair Soccer and Wheelchair Basketball competitions
- Approximately 100 schools and rehabilitation centers across Quebec
- A school component at the competition venues and locally in the schools
- A virtual rhythmic gymnastics competition
- All types of functional limitations (hearing, intellectual, motor, visual, language/speech, mental health and autism spectrum disorders)
- 12 sports: track and field, baseball, basketball, boccia, CrossFit, rhythmic gymnastics, field hockey, para-cycling, pickleball, rugby, volleyball and soccer
- 1,000 volunteers
- 7 competition venues in Montreal and Longueuil
- Over 100 partners who contribute to the success of the event
The Défi sportif AlterGo organizing committee has the health of all participants* as a priority and was committed to creating a safe competition environment for all. A set of sanitary measures has been put in place by the organizing committee.
*Competition participants include, but are not limited to, athletes, chaperones, coaches, officials, volunteers and guests.
Some highlights:
UCI Para-cycling Challenge: The competition was held on April 30 and May 1 on the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal. Approximately 50 athletes were expected to attend. This competition was an opportunity for athletes to earn world ranking points.
Wheelchair Rugby National Championships: The Championships hosted up to 10 teams from across Canada. The top teams from each province have competed from April 28 to May 1, 2022.
The National Boccia Competition: This competition has welcomed over 40 athletes from 5 Canadian provinces. This event sanctioned by Boccia Canada and organized in collaboration with the Association québécoise des sports pour paralytiques cérébraux has taken place on April 23rd and 24th at the Maurice-Richard arena.
In My School: In My School is a new concept created this year. Schools in the school component hosted an AlterGo Sports Challenge within their own school.
