PARTICIPANTS LINE UP FOR A PIECE OF THE ACTION ON THE "ROAD TO ATHENS"    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The 2003 Titan Games: The Road to Athens, Feb. 14-15 in San Jose, Calif., will provide a major test for U.S. Olympic hopefuls, as the world's best get set to compete in the mini-sport festival with a multi-sport format.  The Road To Athens for America's elite boxers, fencers, shot putters, wrestlers, weightlifters and judo, taekwondo and karate athletes matches them up with the world's powers in each of these respective sports.    Developed by the USOC in partnership with the affiliated National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and hosted by the San Jose Sports Authority and the City of San Jose, the Titan Games will feature a "USA versus the World" format in dual and triangular meets. The Titan Games venue will accommodate four platforms with competition continuously happening on at least three platforms. The event's format is the first of its kind and will be staged over three finals-only format sessions at the 5,000 seat Event Center at San Jose State University.  Team and individual winners will be named by sport and weight classification, with the honor of "Ultimate Titan" up for grabs.    In boxing, Cuba's national team will make a rare appearance in the States, set to take on the U.S. for just the fifth time in dual competition since 1990.  Cuba currently houses the most dominant boxing program in the world and their duals with U.S. pugilists are almost legendary.  They'll join Mexico and potentially Puerto Rico in providing a showcase boxing fans are sure to enjoy.    "The addition of Cuba to the Titan Games program provides a heightened level of excitement for our athletes," said Eric Parthen, executive director for USA Boxing.  "There is no better gauge in assessing the development of our boxers than to put them up against the world's best. Going up against Cuba, Mexico and Puerto Rico will give us a good indication of where our athletes stand less than two years away from Athens."    U.S. wrestlers will go head-to-head with Russia and their no. 1 world ranking.  Whenever the top two wrestling nations in the world converge sparks usually fly, and the Titan Games format should only serve to intensify this 40-year-old rivalry.  When the USA beat the former Soviet Union at the 1990 Goodwill Games in wrestling it was selected by the Seattle Times as the No. 1 event of the entire Goodwill Games. Cuba, ranked no. 4 in the world, will only add intrigue to the wrestling competition.    USA Weightlifting has received commitment from Hungary to compete as well. Hungary is currently the no. 2 ranked weightlifting program in the world and will be looking to improve upon that at this event. Elite lifters from Central and South American will also make up a team of Pan Am All Stars.    Ranked no. 2 in the world, U.S. Taekwondo athletes will square off against world no. 1 Korea in a much-anticipated dual event.  The addition of Vietnam to the sport's program is believed to be one of the first times ever that a Vietnam national team has competed in the U.S. in something other than an Olympic Games since the Vietnam War.  Steven Lopez (Houston, Texas), a 2000 Olympic champion, is just one of the world-class athletes expected to attend.    "The Titan Games concept is a great idea.  It will be wonderful to see all the combative sports together at the same time," said Lopez.  "For me, this is one of the first steps I need to take to get prepared for Athens.  It's an opportunity for me to compete against the best countries and best athletes in our sport.  The Titan Games are the starting point for me, and every step and every competition from here on out will be one step closer to getting the gold medal in 2004."    In the shot put, the U.S. currently has the top three shot putters in the world.  Olympic bronze medalist John Godina (Los Angeles, Calif.) is the first of those signed up to throw.  If the other U.S. athletes commit and the world's best make the trip, the grounds outside The Event Center at San Jose State University should be electrifying given the intensity and passion usually on display during this event.    "For American athletes to be the best in the world, they must compete against the best in the world," said Jim Scherr, Chief of Sport Performance for the USOC.  "The Titan Games will provide our Olympic hopefuls that opportunity, as part of their on-going journey to Athens."    The list of marquee participants continues to grow as the 2003 Titan Games loom on the horizon, both from the U.S. and around the world.  The list of athlete participants for each sport will be released in the upcoming weeks.    Pre-sale tickets will be made available through:    www.usolympicteam.com/titangames    through Nov. 30, with general tickets going on sale December 2.