We've waited and watched for seven years as London has prepared itself to host the world's finest 4,200 elite athletes with disabilities for the Paralympic Games.

The usual pre-Games fears of venue readiness, budget overruns and security concerns - okay, this one may be valid in light of recent events - have been set aside as it's now the athletes' time to excel once again after the success of Beijing 2008.

It's now time for delivery.

The success of the venues, villages and accompanying service plans carefully crafted by London 2012 staff over those seven years await the most critical eye of all - the athlete. The support services and preparation programmes of National Paralympic Committees will be tested vigorously over the coming weeks by increasingly demanding expectations of athletes, National Federations, Government funding agencies and growing number of sponsors which the Paralympic movement has attracted.  Coaches and athletes are now in the final preparation phase hoping that they will deliver on their expectation of performance success at the Games.

The bottom line is the best laid plans all come down to critical moments to determine success and failure. Our job as a National Paralympic Committee is to create the correct environment, appoint the most effective support team and implement the optimum service support plan to allow the athletes to perform on their day of delivery. Our job is nearly done, as when the gun goes only the athlete can influence their ultimate outcome.


I have the huge honour of leading 49 proud Irish sportsmen and women to the London Paralympic Games. These Games represent the opportunity for appropriate and timely recognition for Paralympic athletes in Ireland and athletes of all countries competing. London marks the point at which Paralympic Sport in Ireland becomes mainstream.

Our three principle aims for the London cycle were to sustain the success of the Irish team, increase the team size from 48 in Beijing and establish relationships that would ensure every Irish person will know the Games are taking place and given the opportunity to understand and value the exceptional talent of Ireland's Paralympians (pictured below shooter Sean Baldwin).


Two out of three are secured to date with the team of 49 athletes in 10 sports representing our biggest team this century - surprisingly without a football seven-a-side team on this occasion - our many new partners and media organisations working together to promote Paralympic sport ensuring for the first time live coverage in Ireland by Setanta, supported by Allianz, of up to 10 hours daily.

The ultimate factor determining our success or failure is delivery on the field of play.  We are quietly confident the faith and support of the many sponsors and partners will be rewarded with supreme athletic achievement. Only time will tell if that will be reflected on the medal table.

We wait in hope for delivery!

Liam Harbison in the chief executive of Paralympics Ireland and Chef de Mission of the Irish team for the London 2012 Paralympics