Maggie McEleny toasts her accolade

"This is the best prepared team we've ever sent and we're going to go out there and do the business."

Speaking at the GB Paralympic Team Camp in Nottingham, where the vote was taken, Maggie also paid tribute to her late mother - whose birthday would have fallen on the day she is due to carry the torch.

The Greenock swimmer will compete in her third Paralympic Games in October, and is aiming to beat her medal haul of three golds and two silvers at the 1996 Atlanta games.

Maggie holds two world records, in the 50m and 100m breaststroke, and has picked up 11 gold medals at international competitions in the last 10 months alone.

Maggie was a hugely popular choice for this prestigious honour

Helen Potter of the GB paralympic team

The 214-strong British team contains 25 Scots, who will compete in seven sports.

Maggie's Scottish colleagues include four other gold medallists from the 1996 games - Stephen Payton and Caroline Innes on the track and swimmers Jim Anderson and Kenny Cairns.

Helen Potter, Chef de Mission of the British team, said: "Maggie was a hugely popular choice for this prestigious honour and we are delighted that such a distinguished Paralympian and ambassador for disability sport will lead the GB Team out into the Olympic Stadium on 18 October.

Top three target

"It's exciting to again see such a high percentage of Scots in the GB paralympic team, and even more exciting when you look at their prospects of bringing back success."

The British team, which includes 117 wheelchair users, is aiming to increase its medal total to 45 golds and secure a top three place.

Britain were fourth on the medal table in Atlanta with 122 medals, including 39 golds.

The British athletes will be among 4,000 competitors from 132 countries who will take part in the Sydney games between 18 and 29 October. The first Paralympics was held in Rome in 1960.