The Olympics are only a couple of weeks away, which means that very shortly we'll be confronted with the world's fittest, sleekest bodies.

It is enough to make us mere mortals quiver, or should I say wobble, with inadequacy.

If you want to watch the games with anything like a clear conscience, you'll need to act now. Get togged up, kitted out and on the move!

Thanks to internet technology, preparing to get fit has never been easier. In fact, you hardly have to move a muscle!

If it is trainers you are after, hot foot it to the online offshoot of Sportshoes Unlimited, the Bradford-based retail outlet run by ex-professional footballer Bruce Bannister.

Read the tips on selecting and caring for footwear and choose from 4,000 different styles.

If this seems just too many to contemplate, the 'shoe sniffer' search engine will hunt out the best options according to your size, gender, sport and budget.

You can order by cheque or using the secure server for delivery in three to five working days. You will need to add £3 postage and packing.

If you want to look the part from head to toe, Newitt's, the long-established family-run mail order company, now sells its fantastic range of clothing, footwear and sporting equipment on the web.

Their virtual brochure is well designed, logically laid out and easy to use. Items in stock will be delivered to you the next day, free of charge.

Another mail order sportswear company active on the internet is M and M Sports.

With the accent more on leisure than serious sport, this professional-looking site allows you to request a current catalogue or view and order products online.

Products are clearly displayed and prices seem extremely competitive, with the amount saved helpfully flashed in red by each item.

Postage is charged at £3.99 (or free for orders over £100) and takes seven working days.

The JD Sports site boasts an adventurous design with state-of-the-art technology.

Unfortunately, some of the jazzy features mean each page takes quite a while to download. I was also surprised the site didn't have a search function.

Products are dispatched in 48 hours at a cost of £3.99.

Another high street name, JJB Sports, is currently overhauling its site, which is due to be relaunched early in the autumn.

Discount Sports is a dedicated e-retailer offering big-name brands at discounted prices. The range is fairly limited and reductions vary dramatically but it's certainly worth a look.

I found a Slazenger squash racquet at half-price, for example, and a street skate at £30, rather than the usual £110. To top it all, delivery is free.

www.sportsshoes.com
www.newitts.com
www.mmsports.co.uk
www.jdsports.co.uk
www.jjb.co.uk
www.discountsports.co.uk