As wrestler Rulon Gardner was trying to take down his opponent from the Republic of Georgia Saturday night, an announcement blared over the public address system in Philips Arena.

"It's kind of weird as you're wrestling to hear, 'So-and-so from Korea is going to knock out so-and-so,' " Gardner said.

Welcome to the Titan Games, where wrestlers, boxers, judo and taekwondo competitors and fencers compete side-by-side in four "battle zones."

The 1996 Olympics were never like this.

While members of the U.S. team get ready for Athens, Atlantans are becoming reacquainted with seven Olympic sports (shot put was contested Friday in Centennial Olympic Park).

Many folks got a sneak peek at Gardner Friday night when he ran with the Olympic torch for three-quarters of a mile, the longest leg in the Atlanta relay.

What left him more winded, running or wrestling? "Out of respect for the wrestling here, you have to say the match was more strenuous," said Gardner, who defeated Revaz Chelidze 4-0. "But that three-quarters of a mile was stinkin' long last night."

The announced crowd of 4,324, which saw Gardner and company compete Saturday, is the largest ever for the Titan Games, which began last year in San Jose, Calif.

"It's tough to draw people when it's not the Olympic Games and not the big meets," Gardner said. "But to have [weightlifter] Shane Hamman and the boxers and the wrestlers, it's like the Olympic Games. This is the last time I'm competing in America, so this is pretty darn special for me."

It was also special for judoka Mark Fletcher, an Atlanta native who found out four days before the Titan Games that he'd be competing "down the street" from where he grew up. He defeated Arturo Martinez of Mexico.

"It's a good thing he kept himself in shape," said coach Ed Liddie.

Although Fletcher, 24, lost to Rhadi Ferguson in the 100-kilogram class at the Olympic Trials, Ferguson suffered a groin pull in their match and was forced to miss the Titan Games.

But Fletcher said graciously, "I hope he'll be healthy for the Olympics."

Sada Jacobson of Dunwoody fenced competitively for the last time in Atlanta before the Athens Olympics.

"It was fun because I got to hang out with my friends and my family got to come and watch," said Jacobson, whose sister Emily, also an Olympian, was in the stands.

Boxer Andre Ward didn't like hearing the announcer say that he was undefeated since 1998.

"It was throwing my focus off and it was also motivating my opponent," said Ward, who nevertheless beat Hak-Sung Song 16-7.

Olympic bronze medalist Jimmy Pedro made short work of his opponent.

"For the one minute and 11 seconds, it was a blast," Pedro said.

In the crowd, Walker Daniel had a front-row seat to watch his favorite sport, wrestling.

"All I wanted for my birthday were tickets for the Titan Games," said Daniel, who turned 16 on March 23.