The Acting Minister for Sport and Recreation, Scott Bacon, has wished Tasmania's athletes and officials the best for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Mr Bacon said Tasmania had much to celebrate even before tomorrow's opening ceremony, with a record number of Tasmanian athletes and officials representing Australia at the Olympics and Paralympics.

"I congratulate the 17 athletes, 2 reserves and 12 officials who will be representing Australia in London and wish them well," Mr Bacon said.

Mr Bacon said the London 2012 games were an opportunity for all Tasmanians to celebrate and recognise the role of our elite athletes as ambassadors on the world stage.

"Tasmania's sporting champions play a part in representing our state in and away from the sporting arena and are important role models for young and old alike," Mr Bacon said.

Mr Bacon also praised the work of the Tasmanian Institute of Sport (TIS) in preparing our athletes for the Olympics and Paralympics. "It is no coincidence that since the inception of the TIS in 1985, Tasmanian athlete participation in the Olympics has steadily increased and my congratulations to Paul Austen and the team at the TIS for all their hard work.

"There is no doubt that the Tasmanian community walks tall when our athletes represent Australia on the world stage and we all can't wait for the Games to begin."

Mr Bacon also said the Tasmanian representation was a positive reflection of Tasmanian Sporting Organisations who provide competition and development opportunities for aspiring athletes from the early stage of their participation and interest in sport.

"Behind every athlete there are countless volunteers, officials and coaches that all contribute to each athlete's journey and it is important that they are recognised at this time as well," Mr Bacon said. 

Full details of the Tasmanian athletes and their competition schedules are available from the TIS website: www.tis.tas.gov.au.