Défi sportif

Canadian sport event for disabled athletes

The Défi sportif (French pronunciation: [defi spɔʁtif], sports challenge) is a multi-sport event for disabled athletes. The Défi sportif is unique in that it involves athletes of the five types of disabilities: auditory, physical, psychiatric, intellectual, and visual as well as athletes of all levels: from students, to up-and-coming athletes and Paralympic athletes from different countries participate. The Défi sportif is held every year in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The main site is Montreal's Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard, but other sites in Montreal are used, such as Centre Pierre-Charbonneau, Collège de Maisonneuve, Mount Royal, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, etc.

History

The first Défi sportif opened on April 19, 1984, under the auspices of the organization known as the Regional Association for the Recreation of Disabled Persons of the Island of Montreal. The inaugural Défi sportif welcomed no less than 720 athletes competing in 16 sports at three sites. In fact, it is the first time that associations representing all five types of disability gather to participate at one sporting event.

One of the events goals was to be self-financing. To that end the business community was approached and by the event's second year, numerous patrons, partners and sponsors lent their support and popular Quebec humorist Yvon Deschamps signed on as spokesman, a role he would play for the next fifteen years.

In 1986, the Défi sportif was named "Sporting Event of the Year" by the Montréal-Concordia Sports Commission.

The Défi sportif was originally a provincial event, but by 1989, more and more sports clubs from outside Quebec sent participants, and in the early 1990s, the Défi sportif went officially international with athletes Canada, the United States and France.

In 1998, the Défi sportif hosted athletes from eight countries, including Germany, France, Australia and Poland and was named the Quebec international sports event of the year.

In 2005, the Défi sportif welcomed some 2700 athletes over five days of competition. Its official spokespeople included wheelchair athlete Chantal Petitclerc.

In 2006, the Défi sportif welcomed some 2800 athletes over its run from April 26 to 30. Its official spokespeople once again included Petitclerc.

Games

No. Year Host City Events
1 1984 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2 1985 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
3 1986 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
4 1987 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
5 1988 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
6 1989 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
7 1990 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8 1991 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
9 1992 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
10 1993 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
11 1994 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
12 1995 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
13 1996 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
14 1997 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
15 1998 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
16 1999 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
17 2000 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
18 2001 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
19 2002 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
20 2003 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
21 2004 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
22 2005 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
23 2006 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
24 2007 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
25 2008 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
26 2009 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
27 2010 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
28 2011 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
29 2012 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
30 2013 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
31 2014 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
32 2015 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
33 2016 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
34 2017 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
35 2018 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
36 2019 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
37 2020 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Virtual)

Sports involved

Competitions in the following sports are held at the Défi sportif:

  1. Badminton
  2. Ball hockey
  3. Boccia
  4. Cycling
  5. Goalball
  6. Rhythmic gymnastics
  7. Soccer
  8. Swimming
  9. Track and field
  10. Volleyball
  11. Water polo
  12. Wheelchair basketball
  13. Wheelchair fencing
  14. Wheelchair racing
  15. Wheelchair rugby

References

  • Défi sportif

External links

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