The Australian Paralympic Team will be looking to win its 1000th medal when competition gets underway at the Beijing Paralympic Games.

Australia has competed at every Paralympic Games since the 1960 Rome Games winning 908 medals.

With 170 athletes competing in Beijing the task of Australia emulating the 100 medals won in Athens four years ago will be a tough one.

'We finished second on the medal tally in Athens but there is no doubt that Beijing will be the most competitive Games ever,' said Greg Hartung, President Australian Paralympic Committee.

'We expect the standard of competition to be at an all-time high, particularly from China, Great Britain, the USA and emerging Paralympic powers such as Ukraine, Japan and Brazil.'

'As our athletes continue to make the transition further into the realm of elitism, so do more and more athletes with a disability from right around the world.'

'While Australia will leave these shores as the best-prepared, they will arrive in China facing their toughest-ever test.'

Australian athletes (96 men and 74 women) will compete in 13 sports throughout the Beijing Games.