Tailors at Beijing's Xiushui Market have been kept busy over the past few days, creating suits and dresses for Olympic athletes to wear at tomorrow's opening ceremony.

For those competitors who simply could not decide what to wear before setting off, the speedy seamsters and seamstresses have been a godsend.

On Monday, the Nauruan delegation ordered eight suits for the opening ceremony, which took just 24 hours to make.

Paul Coffa, secretary general of the Nauru Olympic Committee, said he was very happy with the end result.

"I have participated in seven Olympic Games, but these are definitely the best clothes yet," he said.

Officials from the International Boxing Association bought 49 suits, and members of the Venezuelan delegation ordered a set of navy blue outfits to wear at the Bird's Nest parade.

Wang Zili, general manager of the Xiushui (Silk Street) Market, said the tailors' ability to deliver clothes as quickly as eight hours after taking an order is the main draw for shoppers.

Over the past few days, the number of visitors to the market has risen by 30 percent and sales are up 40 percent, he said.

Orders for tailor-made clothes have almost doubled, thanks to all the Olympic delegations, he said.

Patrice Mourier, coach of the French wrestling team, said he had bought three shirts, two suits and a coat.

"I'm very impressed with the fabrics and workmanship."

But the Silk Market is not the only place catering to Beijing's Olympic visitors.

On Thursday, Anne Rogge, wife of Jacques, the International Olympic Committee president, bought several dresses at Yaxiu Market in the Sanlitun area of the city.

(China Daily August 7, 2008)