Olympic Q-Series 2028 — Montréal: François Rioux named Executive Director and Gustave Roel named Chair of the Board

MONTRÉAL (October 28, 2026) – Olympic Q-Series 2028 – Montréal is excited to announce the appointments of François Rioux as Executive Director and Gustave Roel as Chair of the Board of Directors. They will lead the local organizing committee responsible for the Olympic Q-Series 2028 to be held in Montréal June 1-4, 2028.

“Major events are born from a vision, but they come to life through collective effort. Being at the head of the Olympic Q-Series 2028—Montréal is a great honour for me and a unique opportunity to create a memorable sporting and cultural event that will highlight athletes, the City of Montréal, and our partners,” says Rioux, an entrepreneur and senior faculty lecturer at HEC Montréal. He recently led the 60th Edition of Finale des Jeux du Québec — Blainville 2026, which brought together over 2600 athletes.

“I am deeply honoured to be appointed Chair of the Board of Olympic Q-Series 2028 — Montréal and to contribute to this major project with a committed team and partners. Our strength will come from our ability to work together with the shared goal of making the Olympic Q-Series 2028 — Montréal a success to strengthen Montréal’s position as a key player on the international sports stage,” adds Roel, Executive Director of the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec and a certified corporate governance graduate (ASC). With over 25 years of experience in the sports community and the development of student activities, he brings an extensive knowledge of the Québec sports system, as well as experience in management and governance that will be especially relevant in overseeing this project. 

Rioux and Roel’s combined expertise, profound knowledge of the sports sector, and ability to mobilize partners around a major project played a significant role in the Board of Directors’ decision. Their respective experience will be key to building a solid team and delivering a successful event.

Following a joint bid by the City of Montréal, the Canadian Olympic Committee, Tourisme Montréal, and their partners, Montréal was announced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as one of the four host cities for the Olympic Q-Series, along with Tokyo, Shanghai and Orlando, a major step in the city’s vision to host major international sports events. The selection reinforces Montréal’s position on the international stage and its vision to host more elite sporting events, in line with Canada’s broader ambition to assert itself as a host country. The flagship event leading up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games will place the metropolis at the heart of the Olympic qualification pathway.

The Olympic Q-Series 2028 will bring together elite athletes in beach volleyball, flag football, skateboarding (park) and BMX freestyle. With over 2,000 participants expected, including over 400 athletes and 70,000 spectators, the event will celebrate sport, the arts, and youth culture, transforming Montréal into a true global stage.

Olympic Q-Series 2028 — Montréal is the result of a partnership initiated in 2024 between the City of Montréal, the Canadian Olympic Committee, Tourisme Montréal, and their partners.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Vanessa Lee
Canadian Olympic Committee
Director, Communications and Media Relations
514-216-1417
vlee@olympic.ca

Communications and Public Affairs
City of Montréal
relationsmedias@montreal.ca

Aurélie de Blois
Tourisme Montréal
Spokesperson and Senior Public Relations Advisor
514-918-5290
adeblois@mtl.org