COUNTDOWN TO OLYMPICS

* Days until opening ceremony: 10.

* Olympic update: Juan Antonio Samaranch arrived in Sydney to preside over what will be his 10th and final Olympic Games as president of the International Olympic Committee.

* March to the medals: Anlloyd Samuel, a 50-meter freestyle swimmer from the tiny Pacific island nation of Palau, is struggling to defeat Sydney youngsters in the pool as he prepares for the Olympics.

* Carrying the torch: Headed to the national capital, Canberra, where it was greeted by a deaf dance trio and a traditional Aboriginal smoking ceremony before spending the night at Parliament House.

* Olympic footnote: Two athletes got off to a bad start at the Olympics. Canadian high jumper Mark Boswell lost a wallet containing more than $7,000 and British hurdler Colin Jackson had a bag stolen.