Given the impeccably high standards London 2012 has set over the past few years, last week was not a particularly good week in terms of Olympic preparations.

Security worries have increased after 3,500 troops were drafted in by the Government to cover the shortfall left by the failure of contractor G4S to provide enough staff, traffic problems have heightened with the untimely closure of the M4 link, and it simply won't stop raining –which isn't really anyone's fault but it certainly dampens moods and increases fears we will have a wet Olympics.

Fortunately, I'm happy to report that it has been a far better week in terms of Paralympic preparations; specifically the British team preparations for the Paralympics.

Tuesday July 10 marked exactly 50 days to go the Paralympic Games and the British Paralympic Association (BPA) took the opportunity to name the final members of the ParalympicsGB team for London 2012 with the announcement of a 49-strong athletics team.

Headed by double Beijing 2008 wheelchair racing champion Dave Weir, Britain's most glamorous Paralympic team also included the likes of T42 200 metres world champion Richard Whitehead, F57 discus thrower Derek Derenalagi who has come through the Ministry of Defence's Battle Back programme and sprint sensation Jonnie Peacock, the 19-year-old from Cambridge who recently broke Oscar Pistorius' T44 world record in the 100m when he ran 10.85sec in Indianapolis.

The announcement took place in the plush surroundings of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in London, where Olympic and Sports Minister Hugh Robertson was full of praise for the athletes.

"The Paralympics is truly a phenomenal sporting competition and these athletes should be very proud they have qualified for London 2012," Robertson said."I wish the very best of luck to all those who have worked extremely hard to be selected and to build on the great success achieved in Beijing."

Just three days later, a two-day event was held at the stunning Westminster Park Plaza in London for the official ParalympicsGB Team Launch. Around that 95 per cent of the ParalympicsGB team attended to collect their final pieces of kit and complete final medicals as well as speak to the media for one of last times before the start of the Paralympics.

In several years of covering Paralympic sport, I have never seen such huge interest in it from the media, who were out in their droves trying to quiz the likes of swimming star Ellie Simmonds about the final stages of her preparations for London 2012.

It was, BPA chief executive Tim Hollingsworth informed me, one of the biggest events in the history of British Paralympic sport and it was undoubtedly a huge success.

The two-day team launch was capped off by a glittering gala dinner on Saturday night at the beautiful and historic Old Billingsgate (pictured above), a fabulous Victorian building overlooking the River Thames.

Kitted out in their evening wear designed by Next (pictured below), all the Paralympians looked rather immaculate with VIPs in attendance including the likes of London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton, 11-time Paralympic champion Baroness Tanni grey Thompson and the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport Jeremy Hunt, who spoke at the dinner of how the Paralympic Games will be "the hidden gem" this summer. They were joined by high profile sponsors of the Games, such as BT, who make the whole thing possible while the dinner was hosted exceptionally by Channel 4's Rick Edwards, who will be a key member of the host broadcaster's coverage of the Paralympics and gave a few tasters of what to expect.

Messages of support came to the team via video link from the likes of Prime Minister David Cameron, footballer David Beckham and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton before BPA chairman Tim Reddish took to the stage.


"This is a special moment and no other team in the world will be having a send-off for the Paralympic Games quite like this," he said. "To compete at a home Games will be truly a special moment for every single one of you and I know you will represent your country with pride."

The dinner ended with a bizarre but humorous video of the BPA staff performing Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" for reasons I'm still unsure of but it somehow marked a fitting climax to a special week in the spotlight for Britain's Paralympians.

If the last few days were anything to go by, the rest of the world would be right to be worried as it is with real glitz and glamour that ParalympicsGB rises for London 2012.

Tom Degun is a reporter for insideworldparasport. You can follow him on Twitter by clicking here.