STRIPY knickers, a pair of Aston Villa socks and a cuddly toy are just some of the more unlikely items that Britain's Olympic hopefuls will have snuck into Beijing in their kit bags.

For it seems that our sport stars are a superstitious bunch. After years of training to prepare them for the Games, Team GB has also acquired a few unusual pre-race rituals of its own.

Sailing's World and Oly-mpic champion, 31-year-old Ben Ainslie from Lymington, always tucks into a Chinese meal on the eve of an event.

Windsurfing contender Nick Dempsey, from Weymouth will not wear anything green while his fiancee sailor Sarah Ayton, always wears red socks.

At 14, diving sensation Tom Daley, will be the second youngest British Olympian, but the pressure of his first games won't faze the teenager as long as he's got his lucky monkey.

Cassie Patten, the British open water and 800m freestyle swimmer, can't leave for a competition without ensuring that her teddy bear, Rainbow, and her clown, Sniffy, are tucked up in bed at home.

And triple jump hopeful Philip Idowo won't jump without his head and wristbands.

Peter Keen, head of performance at UK Sport, which distributes Lottery funding to elite athletes says: "It's quite natural for athletes to have superstitions and lucky charms ahead of an important competition, but most importantly it is hard work and determination that has got them to the Games."