Colorado Springs, Colo. - For a complete dose of world-class athletes, jam-packed action and combat sport competition, tune to ESPN2 on March 29 and March 30, 2003 for the multi-sport event, Titan Games presented by adidas.  Set aside a couple of hours to watch an incredible and rare showcase of eight combat sports displayed in a unique setting, and featuring 2004 U.S. Olympic hopefuls and international star athletes as they battle for the title of "Ultimate Titan."  Tagged as "Not all the Olympic events,  just the really painful ones!" the event is the first of its kind.    The pair of one-hour programs gives you a sneak preview of current and future U.S. and international Olympians preparing for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Titan Games is a four-ring spectacle of athletes competing in a variety of Olympic sports, which occurred simultaneously on four battle zone platforms.  To be debuted nationally on ESPN2, the event took place before a live crowd, February 13-15, 2003 at the Event Center in San Jose, California.    Developed by the United States Olympic Committee (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 features Olympic-caliber athletes in the sports of boxing, wrestling, fencing, taekwondo, weightlifting, judo, shot put and karate.    "For anyone who wants a fix of Olympic sports, this is one of the most exciting events to be shown on national television," said USOC Chief of Entertainment Properties Keith Allo.  "The unique camera angles bring the viewer right into the ring or onto the mat.  After watching the Titan Games, viewers will line up to see these rarely televised sports during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens," added Allo.    WHO, WHAT, WHERE AND WHEN:    Titan Games will air as a series on ESPN2, March 29, 3:00 -4:00 p.m. (ET) and March 30, 4:30 -5:30 p.m. (ET), immediately following the NCAA  Women's Basketball East Regional final.  Included in the broadcast are four U.S. Olympic athlete feature stories:  Rulon Gardner (Cascade, Colo.), 2004 U.S. Olympic hopeful and 2000 Olympic gold medalist (Greco-Roman wrestling); Cheryl Haworth (Savannah, Ga.), 2004 U.S. Olympic hopeful and 2000 Olympic bronze medalist (women's weightlifting); Iris Zimmerman (Rush, N.Y.), 2004 U.S. Olympic hopeful and 2000 Olympian (fencing); and Andre Ward (Oakland, Calif.), 2004 U.S. Olympic boxing hopeful.  Host of the Titan Games broadcast is Olympic gymnastics gold medalist, Bart Conner.    What Viewers Will See Watching Titan Games on ESPN2:    * "Ultimate Titan" U.S. Olympian and 2004 Olympic weightlifting hopeful, Shane Hamman (Mustang, Okla.), entertained the crowd by matching their chants for "500!  500!" His lift landed him title of "Ultimate Titan," while his female teammate Cheryl Haworth, a 2000 Olympic bronze medalist, also brought the crowd to its feet with a 324-pound clean and jerk, to easily outlast her competition.    * Rulon Gardner Comeback. Watch Rulon Gardner, wrestling legend and U.S. Olympic gold medalist, battle an up-and-coming Cuban Greco-Roman wrestler, Mijian Lopez, and score a win against Kazakhstan's Georgiy  Tsurtsumia.  Hear about Rulon's comeback and how his Titan Games competition occurred on the one-year anniversary of his near death snowmobile accident.    * Female Wrestling.  View women's wrestling as the USA's Tina George (Cleveland, Ohio), prepares for Athens.  For the first time, women's wrestling will be contested in an Olympic Games, the only sport that has been added to the 2004 Athens Summer Games.    * Rowdy and Rough Shot Putters.  See the #1 and #3 shot putters in the world, both from the U.S., give viewers an up-close look at the physical and emotional strength behind this ancient Olympic sport. Adam Nelson (Atlanta, Ga.) and John Godina ( Los Angeles, Calif.), put on a show for Titan Games spectators.  Shot put has become one of the more popular events at a track & field meet along side the 100 meters.  Hear the groans from the athletes and witness the intense build-up and explosive toss of the 16-pound weight as it is launched more than 70 feet.    * Boxing.  2004 U.S. Olympic hopeful Andre Ward, undefeated since 1998, delivered punches so powerful the bout was stopped against his opponent, Anibal Rodriguez of Puerto Rico.    * The Agony of Defeat.  For 2004 U.S. Olympic hopeful Cael Sanderson (Heber City, Utah), defeat was not part of his vocabulary in college. This NCAA wrestling star was undefeated for four years at Iowa State (159-0). At Titan Games competitor, Cuba's freestyle world champion, Yoel Romero, handed him a rare loss.    *  Lightning-Quick Kicks.  Steven Lopez (Sugar Land, Texas), 2000 Olympic gold medalist and 2001 World Champion in taekwondo, stuns the crowd with his vast array of moves and lightening-quick kicks.  However, Lopez's 16-year-old teammate, Taylor Stone (Denver, Colo.), stole the show by defeating Korean powerhouse Sung-hee Yun, the reigning World Cup champion.    * USA vs. "The World." With 19 countries and 184 athletes, watch the U.S. battle the best in the world for "Ultimate Titan" titles, prize money and the edge on competitors as athletes from around the world prepare for the "Road to Athens" in 2004.    * Sharp Objectives and Big Blows:  Kicks, maneuvers and fast footwork displayed by international athletes and U.S. Olympians Iris Zimmerman (fencing) and Brian Olson (Woodville, Fla.), a five-time U.S. champion in judo.    * Rarely Televised Sports.  This is a rare chance to watch some of the most physical and intense sports on national television.    TITAN GAMES SPONSORS    In addition to Titan Games presenting sponsor adidas, corporate Titan Games sponsors included:  Bank of America, Budweiser, Visa and 24 Hour Fitness. Titan Games corporate suppliers include: Coca-Cola, The Home Depot, Kodak and Swain Sports International.