Artistic differences dividing devotees of 'synchro'

BUDAPEST - FINA will not revert to 'synchronized swimming' after the name of the sport was changed to 'artistic swimming' last week, the world governing body's executive chairman, Cornel Marculescu, said on Wednesday.

The organization that oversees world swimming - which also elected top officials, including a new term for 81-year-old chairman Julio Maglione - voted to change the name to attract a wider audience to a sport that has expanded recently, including having male competitors.

"This issue (renaming the sport) is coming out from the media... and also from the (International Olympic Committee) to give another dimension to synchro not to be only synchro swimming but to be a very artistic sport," Marculescu said at the world championships.