World Cup Gets Some Changes

DURBAN, South Africa, January 23. THE FINA World Cup will have a tweaked look when it returns to the schedule in October. Not only will the top point-scorers of the series receive $100,000 after the seven-meet slate concludes, the point formula has been adjusted to reward world-record swims with an additional 20 points and for the top 10 swims to be rated in order for the awarding of points. Any world records that are tied will be rewarded with 10 points and the second-place finishers in the standings among the men and women will receive $50,000. Third-place finishers will get $30,000 and individuals breaking world records will share in a $50,000 prize pool. With a major gap between the World Champs in March and the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the World Cup could attract big-time fields. Here are the dates of the seven meets: Durban, South Africa (Oct. 20-21); Singapore (Oct. 27-28); Sydney (Nov. 2-3); Moscow (Nov. 9-10); Stockholm (Nov. 13-14); Berlin (Nov. 17-18); Belo Horizonte, Brazil (Nov. 23-25).