Australian Paralympic Committee President Greg Hartung says that while Australia is aiming for a top five finish at the 2012 London Paralympic Games, the competition has never been so fierce.

Today marks exactly one year until the 2012 Australian Paralympic Team enters the stadium for the Opening Ceremony, signalling the beginning of what Mr Hartung believes will be the most competitive 11 days of Paralympic sport in history.

'The Australian Paralympic Committee is on track to deliver an outstanding Australian Team to the 2012 London Paralympic Games, but a Paralympic medal has never been harder to win,' Hartung said.

'The challenge from our rivals in London is certain to be greater than we have ever faced.

'A top five finish for Australia is achievable, but a small number of medals could be the difference between us finishing inside the top five or outside the top 10.'

More than 4,200 athletes from 150 countries will compete in 20 sports from August 29 to September 9 next year.

China, Great Britain and the United States look likely to take out the top three spots, with Australia set to battle several countries including Brazil, Ukraine, Germany and France to hold its place in the top five.

Australia claimed fifth overall at both the 2008 Beijing and 2004 Athens Paralympic Games after topping the medal tally in Sydney, and has not finished outside the top five since its seventh placing at the 1992 Paralympics in Barcelona.

The Australian Paralympic Committee is aiming to send a team of 305 - 165 athletes and 140 staff – to London, making it the largest Australian away team ever. A team of 267 contested the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

'We saw in Beijing in 2008 that the standard of competition was higher than ever, but that standard has risen significantly since. More and more countries are taking Paralympic sport seriously and are investing unprecedented funding and resources into their Paralympic teams,' Mr Hartung added.

The Australian Paralympic Committee will mark the One Year To Go milestone by launching the Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Sydney this evening.

Three inaugural inductions will be made – one female athlete, one male athlete and one associate member.

For a full wrap up from the launch of Paralympic Hall of Fame, log onto www.paralympic.org.au tomorrow.