Madonna has bought 100 pairs of fishnet stockings for her upcoming tour.

The ‘Give It 2 Me’ singer – who turned 50 last weekend - got staff to trawl
internet auction site eBay and dance shops for the garments to make sure she
has the perfect leg-wear.

She has also requested 100 pairs of knee pads, 12 trampolines and four large
freezers of ice cubes to sooth aching muscles for her ‘Sticky and Sweet’
world tour.

Twelve seamstresses are working to make her costume changes run smoothly
during the show.

On top of her extravagant wardrobe, Madonna will also be sporting $1 million
worth of Swarovski crystals.

The diva’s 250-strong entourage also includes a chiropractor, a personal
trainer and a masseuse, and her dancers have put in an unbelievable 653
hours of rehearsals for the show.

The 45-date tour kicks off in Cardiff, Wales, tomorrow (08/23/08).

Last week, the star’s film director husband Guy Ritchie threw a lavish

Madonna claims her spiritual age is 36.

The 'Give It 2 Me' singer - who turns 50 tomorrow (08/16/08) - has been told
by Kabbalah priests she is 14 years younger than her true birth age.

The star has since banned guests attending her celebrations from referring
to her being 50, according to Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper.

She has also issued instructions informing her guests not to bring any
cards, cakes or presents which state her true age.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Justin Timberlake - who teamed up with
Madonna on the smash hit track '4 Minutes' earlier this year - was unsure
what to buy the queen of pop for her special day, and so has settled for
golfing vouchers.

Earlier this week, it was reported Madonna was considering delaying her
birthday celebrations after twisting her ankle.

The singer was set to throw a lavish party at her country estate in
Wiltshire, England, but suffered the injury while rehearsing for her

The singer has renewed her bid to care for three-year-old Mercy James now
that her marriage to Guy Ritchie is stronger and Malawian officials say she
is "on the cusp" of completing the process.

Penstone Klembe, Malawi adoption minister, told Britain's The Sun newspaper:

"Madonna's representatives have been visiting the girl. The adoption is now
advanced - all the government is waiting for is Madonna to forward the
petition of adoption formalities.

"Then Mercy will be able to leave the country for a new life."

According to friends, Madonna, 49, and Guy, 39 - who began the process to
adopt David Banda from Malawi in 2006 before it finalized earlier this
year - renewed their bid to adopt the toddler after working to save their
marriage following rumors the singer was having an affair with sportsman
Alex Rodriguez.

One friend said: "The adoption process in Malawi is so long and stressful

Madonna has been forced to postpone her 50th birthday celebrations after twisting her ankle.

The '4 Minutes' singer - who reaches the milestone age on Saturday (08/16/08) - was set to throw a lavish party at her country estate in Wiltshire, England, but has now postponed the festivities after suffering an injury during rehearsals for her forthcoming world tour.

A source told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "Plans are very hush-hush but Madonna is definitely going to celebrate in style.

"Unfortunately, not everything has gone as expected as she's had many other things on her mind - not least rehearsals for her 'Sticky and Sweet' tour. On top of all the stress, she twisted her ankle over the weekend.

"She views this as a sign she should postpone the birthday bash and play it by ear instead.

"Madonna now thinks it will go ahead during a three-day break in the tour towards the end of the month."