COUNTDOWN TO SYDNEY

* Days until opening ceremony: Nine.

* Olympic update: Howling winds knocked out train service at Olympic Park station and damaged sailboats training on Sydney Harbor, underlining two of the biggest fears of Olympic organizers--nasty weather and transportation problems.

* March to the medals: China has dropped 40 athletes and officials from its 300-member team in a move that apparently results from a round of pre-Olympic drug testing.

* Carrying the torch: Leaking gas from a torch flared up, causing a minor burn to a young bearer. Flame burst from the torch Tahnee Clydesdale, 12 was holding as she tried to light it from one held by the previous runner at Belconnen in Australia’s capital, Canberra. A shocked Clydesdale dropped the torch to the ground. A substitute torch was quickly found and she was able to continue her leg of the torch relay, organizers said.

* Olympic footnote: Hammer thrower Robin Lyons has been dropped from Canada’s Olympic team after a positive test for anabolic steroids.