Olympic fashion stakes

Ever brighter, ever tighter - hot pants for the sprints, ringed socks for the long jump, "whole-body condoms" for swimming. You'd think the Olympics were a fashion, not sports, show. Just about everyone wears as little as possible.

Ah, the volleyballers - especially those on the beach. The girls' bikinis just get tinier and tinier, while if they had their way the boys would play their version of the sport bare-chested.The tightest-of-tight-fitting high-tech swimsuits might look like the athletes are poured into them, but in fact they take 15 to 20 minutes to struggle into before each race. That might explain why some of the men prefer the topless knee- length version. The sleek one-piece suits might be good for setting world records, but they are not too flattering. The ones who really go over the top are the synchronised swimming competitors with their wildly patterned, sequined swimsuits and their waterproof make-up. Chinese model Mo Wanden has just been showing the most expensive swimsuit in Beijing - a little black number with a honeycomb pattern recalling the architecture of the Water Cube and featuring hundreds of crystals by the legendary Austrian Swarovski company.

Then there is all the fastidious attention to detail that many athletes indulge in - US heptathlon contender Jackie Johnson's sky- blue detachable sleeves, or Samoa's Shanahan Sanitoa clocking the worst time in the 100m heats in a pink dance costume. There are more birds of paradise flapping away in the athletics sandpit. Panama's Irving Saladina leapt to gold in one blue and one red lacquered shoe.South Africa's Khoto Mokoena took silver in bright red knee-length socks, while those of Senegal's Ndiss Kaba Badjiaus featured brightly-coloured rings. It has even reached as far as the conservative hockey women. They might still be sticking to their classic skirts, but at least the tops have moved on. They are now tight-fitting, with narrow shoulder straps.