With an expected Team size between 460-480 athletes potentially competing in 33 different sports, Australia’s Olympic hopefuls are criss-crossing the globe trying to qualify for a ticket to Paris.

Currently, teams that have qualified include the women’s and men’s Rugby Sevens teams, the Artistic Swimming team, the Equestrian team as well as individual quota places in Shooting, Diving and Swimming. The first Test event has been held with sailing in Marseille this month.

AOC President Ian Chesterman says today’s one year out milestone is significant for athletes, their families and friends, and the volunteers and sports that have brought our Paris hopefuls to this point.

“There’s an enormous amount of excitement, equally the focus is rightly on performance and qualifying for a place on the Team.

“Unlike Tokyo, this time around friends and families can cheer on the Team in Paris and that means a great deal to the athletes.

“We have created a French catchcry for our Team – “Allez Aus”, meaning “Go Australia!” and that is being launched today.

At today’s celebration event at Qantas Headquarters in Mascot, the Olympic Games newest event will go on display, with an exhibition of Breaking, which makes its debut in Paris.

Chef de Mission for the Australian Team, Olympic cycling champion, Anna Meares says Paris is well and truly ready to host the Games.

“At last week’s Chef de Mission seminar in Paris, I had a firsthand glimpse of their planning and their preparations. They are ready and they are excited.

“The Olympic Village will be a home away from home for our athletes, although at these Games around one third of our Team will actually be staying in sub-sites and other accommodation away from the Village. These Games are spread out.”

“There will be an urban sports space in the heart of Paris at the Place de la Concorde for breaking, 3 x 3 basketball, skateboarding and BMX freestyle. Some 15,000 kilometres away in Tahiti, our surfers will be going hard at it in the heart of the Pacific.

Tokyo C1 canoe gold medallist Jess Fox says the Paris Games will be unique.

“The French are calling it the “Games Wide Open” and that’s really about welcoming the world and having the Games be accessible to so many people, whilst showcasing Paris and different parts of France.

“My mission right now is to qualify but I think we can all be forgiven for dreaming about what these Games will be like. I love the idea of the Opening Ceremony on the river Seine, and the vision of athletes competing in front of spectacular landmarks. It seems like it will be truly magical!

“The Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, is a state of the art complex hosting paddle and rowing events and includes the whitewater venue. It's been open for a few years so I've had the opportunity to train there and I'm looking forward to racing the Olympic test event there in October,” Ms Fox concluded.