Countdown to Olympics

* Days until opening ceremony: 5.

* Olympic update: The IOC is insisting on an explanation for the Australian government’s decision to deny entry to two Asian Olympic officials with rumored criminal links.

* March to the medals: The U.S. men’s and women’s basketball teams, favored to win gold, struggled in their exhibitions against Australia at Melbourne before winning by 25 and 21 points, respectively.

* Carrying the torch: Headed closer to its Monday arrival in the Sydney suburbs, moving along the New South Wales coast from Batemans Bay to Kiama.

* Olympic footnote: The transportation system had a mixed day Saturday--there were few problems getting people to Olympic Stadium for an opening ceremony dress rehearsal, but IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch had to cancel a tour of the international broadcast center when a bus failed to show up.