Americans add HK leg to global tour

America's top swimmers will take to the pool in the Hong Kong leg of the FINA World Cup next January, it has been revealed.

As part of their build-up to the World Short Course Championships to be held in Hong Kong next April, the United States have decided to embrace the 12-city global series that gets underway in November.

It is the first time the US will have participated in the event.

'America are taking part in the World Cup which is obviously something the organisers are happy about,' a spokesman for the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association said.

'They have a strong team and some of the best swimmers in the world. It is good news for Hong Kong swimming fans.' US swimming officials were delighted at the prospect of taking part in the short course World Cup. 'It opens a whole new world of competition,' 1996 US Olympic captain Jon Olsen said.