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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 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2 1985 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 3 1986 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 4 1987 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 5 1988 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 6 1989 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 7 1990 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 8 1991 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 9 1992 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 10 1993 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 11 1994 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 12 1995 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 13 1996 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 14 1997 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 15 1998 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 16 1999 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 17 2000 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 18 2001 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 19 2002 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 20 2003 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 21 2004 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 22 2005 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 23 2006 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 24 2007 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 25 2008 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 26 2009 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 27 2010 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 28 2011 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 29 2012 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 30 2013 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 31 2014 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 32 2015 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 33 2016 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 34 2017 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 35 2018 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 36 2019 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 37 2020 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

• Défi sportif

• Sport in Montreal
• Multi-sport events in Canada
• Recurring sporting events established in 1984