FINA today adopted the new Omega starting block for use after the 2008 Olympic Games and used it as a platform from which to dive in as the first international sports federation to take on board the newest version of the World Anti-Doping Code, which comes into force on January 1, 2009.

The decisions were rubber-stamping of matters already accepted by the FINA Bureau and were taken at the FINA Extraordinary Congress here in Manchester on the eve of the World Short Course Championships.

The international federation also brought open water swimming into line with the lexicon of Olympic Games, with official recognition of the term "e;Marathon"e; swimming in relation to the 10km event, which will be held for the first time in the Olympic arena in Beijing.

There are also a some new medical and ethical rules in the book that relate to the security and protection of athletes' health.

President Mustapha Larfaoui reminded members of the special significance of 2008: 'FINA celebrates 100 years next July 19 and if the memory of our great past is essential, the construction of a brighter future remains our priority. Throughout FINA history, the National Member Federations were certainly the main partners in our search for greatness. Once more, you had the opportunity to stay associated with crucial changes in our rules and to the growth and improvement of our activities.'