Olympic & Paralympic Trials presented by Bell return to Montreal in 2021

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the road to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be longer than expected, but they will still run through Montreal for Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic track and field hopefuls.

The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Track and Field Trials presented by Bell return to Canada’s first Olympic city at Montreal’s Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard. The event is expected to be held June 24 to 27.

“Postponing the 2020 Trials was the right decision, no matter how disappointing it was to the athletes, coaches and staff working towards their Olympic and Paralympic dreams,” said Athletics Canada’s Chief Executive Officer David Bedford. “It was also disappointing to the great track and field fans of Montreal, as well as our local and national partners who were committed to putting on a world-class event. When it came time to set our sights on 2021, we were proud to bring these Trials back to Montreal.”

The 2021 Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Trials presented by Bell will serve as the final event to determine the athletes nominated to the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic teams competing in Tokyo next summer.

Montreal hosted the Canadian Track and Field Championships in 2019. The last Olympic trials held in Montreal were in 1996.

“The people of Montreal know their track and field and they have waited a long time to host this event. There’s a long history of athletics in this area and this province, we are happy to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Trials to Montreal,” Bedford said.

Event logistics such as registration, accommodations and ticketing will be unveiled at a later date.

“The Fédération québécoise d’athlétisme is happy to host Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Track and Field Trials presented by Bell in 2021 and to build on what was accomplished in 2019. We thank Athletics Canada to renew its trust in our experienced organizing committee. The objective remains to present a high quality event for athletes, coaches and all track and field fans in Montreal, Quebec and Canada ,» declared Claude Chagnon, chair of the organizing committee and Sylvain Proulx, president of the FQA.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will take place July 23 to August 8, 2021, while the Paralympic Games will run from August 24 to September 5, 2021.