Congratulations and good luck to Australian Paralympians bound for Beijing to compete against the world’s best.  

More than 170 athletes supported by 121 officials are gearing up to compete for Australia at the Beijing Paralympics. Ninety-five athletes will make their debut at the Paralympics. This includes Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) scholarship holders who benefit from quality coaching and sports science from the nation’s centre of sports excellence. 

Among Australia’s top medal chances on show look out for AIS scholarship holders, Matthew Cowdrey (swimming), Jay Dohnt (swimming), Amanda Fraser (athletics) and Heath Francis (athletics) who will be out to impress and perform at their best.

ASC CEO Mark Peters paid tribute to AIS athletes for their tremendous achievement in making the Australian Paralympic team and wished them well in preparation for the Beijing Games.

'The Australian Sports Commission is proud to fund and support the training and development of Paralympians through the AIS  and Australian Paralympic Committee,’ Peters said.  

‘The ASC makes a significant contribution to Australia’s Paralympic success through a number of its leading programs and initiatives that enable people with disability to  be  involved in organised sport, and provide elite pathways to competition if they choose.

‘We are committed to giving Australian Paralympians every chance to reach their full potential and to achieve their best. Australia is a world leader in creating opportunities to get more people with disability involved in organised sport,' Peters said.

The Australian Government, through the Australian Sports Commission, has provided more than $26 million over the Olympic cycle to the Australian Paralympic Committee to assist Australia’s paralympic athletes in their sporting endeavours.

Since 1996, Australia has been ranked in the top five nations at the Paralympic Games and was one of two countries to win 100 or more medals at the Athens games in 2004.

AIS athletes with a disability contributed 64 out of 100 of medals won by Australians at the Athens Paralympics.

The Australian Paralympic Team will depart for Beijing on 1 September ahead of the Beijing Paralympic Games opening ceremony on 6 September.  In all, there will be 472 medals on offer.