The 23-year-old was told by officials early last week that he'd made the side to compete in Tokyo, although the announcement wasn't confirmed until last Friday.

"I couldn't tell anyone, that was hard,'' the now Newcastle-based wheelchair racer said.

Bailey achieved the qualifying mark of 14.35 some time ago, so he always knew he was a safe bet to make the team.

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"But it's good that it's official now,'' Bailey said.

He leaves for Tokyo on August 20.

"That's great, because I'll be there for the opening ceremony,'' he said.

Bailey's event will be on September 1. He'll return home on September 2.

"I could have stayed a bit longer, but I didn't want to. I have to go into quarantine for two weeks when I get back so I want to get that out of way as quickly as possible,'' Bailey explained.

"And we can't go anywhere while we're in Tokyo - we can even go and watch any other events. I'd be stuck in the athletes' village, so I might as well come home.''

He's had his two COVID-19 vaccinations but even so, Bailey remains wary of the virus.

"I feel safe, but I guess things can happen,'' he said.

Restrictions will be tight in Tokyo and for that reason Bailey understands the Paralympics won't be the adventure he originally envisaged. There won't be any mixing with athletes from other countries or sight seeing.

"It is what it is,'' he said philosophically.

Bailey thinks he can secure a place in the final. His PB is 14.18 for the 100 metres, which at the time was the sixth best in the world.

"A medal might be out of my reach just at the moment, because there's going to be some quick racers there. If I can make the final I'll be happy,'' he said.

Bailey made the final at the world championships held at Dubai two years ago, where he finished seventh. He admitted he drew the 'lucky card' when it came to the heats and semi-final there, where he said the depth in the field wasn't great. He doubts he'll get a similar pathway in Tokyo.

He's been mixing trips to the sauna with his regular training in a bid to get accustomed to the heat and humidity expected in Tokyo.

"That's been hard - I'm already hot after I finish training then I get into the sauna for 20 minutes,'' he said.

This will be his first Paralympic but he's determined it won't be his last. News that Brisbane will host the Olympics and Paralympics in 2032 is all the incentive he needs to keep racing.

"I'll be 34 by then and I hope I'm still competing. There's another Paralympics in between as well as world championships and Commonwealth Games, so hopefully my body will hold out.

"But that would be a good time to retire - after Brisbane and competing on my home soil.''

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