While entries have yet to be finalized, there could be an occasion to get a taste of this summer’s Paralympic Games with international and national events scheduled to take place in Canada.
In addition to those opportunities to measure their progress leading into the Games, for some athletes team trials will determine whether they get their ticket to Paris 2024.
Here are some scheduled events:
April 26-May 5: Défi Sportif Altergo, Montreal
Can’t attend the Games in Paris? Every year Montreal hosts the Défi Sportif Altergo a sort of mini Paralympics which features athletes from the grassroots level all the way to the elite level. It has been held annually since 1984. This year’s schedule has not yet been announced but some key events are already on international calendars.
The Défi has become a traditional stop on the boccia World Cup circuit and could feature Canadians headed to the Paralympic Games including defending champion Iulian Ciobanu and 2023 bronze medallist Alison Levine. Last year the boccia tournament attracted athletes from 26 countries.
In the past, international competitions have been held in Para cycling, wheelchair racing, Para ice hockey and several other sports.
To keep tabs on this year’s addition bookmark: https://defisportif.com/en/
June 6-10: wheelchair rugby, Canada Cup, Richmond, B.C.
The Canada Cup tournament is traditionally one of the international highlights of the wheelchair rugby calendar. Created by the BC Wheelchair Sports Association, it has been held every two years since 2004.
The last tournament in 2022, which attracted six countries, was one of the most exciting as Canada lost by one point to Japan 57-56 in the championship final.
With the Paralympics just weeks away, the 2024 edition promises to draw the battle lines for the Games tournament in Paris. Canada, ranked fifth in the world, features some of the best players in the world including scoring star Zak Madell, Cody Caldwell, and defensive stalwart Trevor Hirschfield.
For more info: https://www.canadacupwcrugby.com/
June 29: Para triathlon, World Series, Montreal
Two-time Paralympic Games medallist Stefan Daniel of Calgary is a three-time winner of the annual Montreal World Series stop held at Parc Jean-Drapeau, including the 2023 and 2022 editions. Rising star Kamylle Frenette of Dieppe, N.B., is coming off the best season of her international career including a bronze at the Montreal event.
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In addition to these international events, there are numerous national championships which often feature Paralympians competing for their respective clubs or provinces and of course national team trials that finalize or help determine each sport’s squad for Paris 2024.
Some to watch for include:
March 22-24: wheelchair basketball, CWBL Women’s Nationals, Ottawa
March 29-31: Para cycling, Canadian track championships, Bromont, Que.
April 26-28: wheelchair basketball, CWBL Men’s Nationals, Fredericton
May 13-19: Para swimming, Olympic and Paralympic Trials, Montreal
May 17-19: wheelchair rugby, national championships, Calgary
June 20-23: Para cycling, Canadian road championships, Saint-Georges, Que.
June 26-30: Para athletics, Olympic and Paralympic Trials, Montreal
