With the 2008 Olympic Games just one year away, the 2007 Visa Championships, Aug. 15-18 in San Jose, Calif., is definitely the place to see the USA’s gymnastics stars, all of whom are vying for coveted U.S. titles and a berth on the 2007 World Championships Team. The artistic gymnastics field boasts three Olympians and five world champions among the country’s best. The Visa Championships also showcases the nation’s best in rhythmic and acrobatic gymnastics.

After day one of the men’s competition, 2006 U.S. all-around champion Alexander Artemev (Morrison, Colo.) and David Durante (Garwood, N.J.) are tied for first and lead the men’s senior all-around competition at the 2007 Visa Championships at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The women’s senior all-around competition and individual events begin today at 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time. The men’s competition will conclude on Friday with the women finishing on Saturday. Rhythmic and Acrobatic competition takes place Thursday through Saturday.

Boxing

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Boxing are quickly approaching with 88 of the nation’s top boxers vying for an Olympic berth, August 20-26, in Houston, Texas. The athletes will arrive on Saturday, August 18 before opening competition in the double-elimination tournament on August 20.

First round action will begin on Monday, August 20 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Olympic Team Trials action will run through August 26 with all of the victors earning berth on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team.

The U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Boxing will host a media teleconference with 2004 Olympian and 2005 World Championships bronze medalist Rau'shee Warren (Cincinnati, Ohio), Iraqi war veteran and 2007 Pan American Games bronze medalist Christopher Downs (Ft. Carson, Colo./Knoxville, Tenn.),and two-time U.S. Champion and Pan Am Games silver medalist Demetrius Andrade (Providence, R.I.). The teleconference will take place on Friday, August 17 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern (12:30 p.m. Mountain). The toll-free number is 1-800-311-9410 and the password is BOXING.

Parapan American Games

The Parapan American Games wrap-up competition on Sunday, August 19. The U.S. Team is second overall having earned 55 medals thus far, including 30 in swimming and 16 in track and field.

Volleyball

The U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Canada, 3-1, in the team’s first game of the America’s Cup tournament in Manaus, Brazil. Action continues throughout the weekend, with the U.S. taking on Argentina later today and medal rounds set for this weekend.

The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team travels to Macau, China, for FIVB World Grand Prix matches against China on Aug. 17 (7 a.m. MT), Cuba on Aug. 18 (2:30 a.m. MT) and Netherlands on Aug. 19 (11 p.m. MT on Aug. 18).

Team USA (4-2) is currently in fifth place in the 12-team tournament after the first six matches and second of three preliminary round weekends of three matches apiece. The top five teams along with China advance to the World Grand Prix Finals held Aug. 22-26 in Ningbo, China.

World University Games

The 2007 Summer World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand, conclude on Saturday. The U.S. Team has won 30 medals, 26 of which came in the swimming competition. The U.S. Men’s Volleyball Team will battle for gold against Italy on Saturday.