BEIJING (AP):

THE START of the Olympic swimming competition is only a day away and many athletes still don't know which swimsuits they are going to wear.

Such pool powers as Italy, Japan and hosts China have each set aside ties with suppliers to give their swimmers the opportunity to wear Speedo's revolutionary LZR Racer or other comparable high-tech suits.

Of the 48 world records set this year - including both long and short-course - 44 of them have been established by swimmers wearing the LZR.

Italy recently broke their long-standing contract with Arena and switched to a new Italian supplier called Jaked. Nike-sponsored China have followed suit, while Japan dropped their exclusive arrangement with domestic suppliers.

So who will wear which suit?

"You'll find out on the day we compete," Japan coach Koji Ueno said through a translator yesterday.

Broken contract

Defending 100 and 200m breaststroke champion Kosuke Kitajima announced in June that he had broken his contract with Mizuno and will use a Speedo during the Games.

Italy's top swimmer, Filippo Magnini, the two-time 100 freestyle world champion, cut off a lucrative deal with Arena and will also wear Speedo. Massimiliano Rosolino, who has won 57 medals in Olympics, world and European championships, is still debating whether to wear Jaked or Arena.

The rest of Italy's team will use Jaked.

Laure Manaudou of France, who won three medals at the 2004 Athens Games, is also reportedly considering a switch from Arena to Speedo.