Working in conjunction with the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the ATP has properly incorporated the Olympic tennis event into the 2004 calendar to attract the game's top players to Athens.
A further change will see an expanded Indian Wells Masters event featuring the leading tennis players from both the men's and women's games.
In recognition of the increasing popularity of tennis in Latin America, there now will also be a four-tournament swing of tennis in the region starting in Vina del Mar, Chile in February.
The Tour will then swing to Buenos Aires followed by the Brazil Open, which has been moved from its September date and now will be held on clay from February 23-29. Acapulco, the International Series Gold tournament in Mexico, will follow from March 1-7.
The 2004 calendar will contain 65 tournaments in 31 countries. It begins on January 5 in Adelaide, Chennai and Doha and concludes at the Tennis Masters Cup in Houston, the season-ending championships which will begin on November 13.
"Tennis appeals to fans in all regions of the world, and our calendar is designed to reflect the uniquely global nature of this great sport," said ATP chief executive officer Mark Miles.
The ATP has unveiled a number of scheduling changes for next year including the incorporation of the Olympics as an official rankings event on the men's tennis tour.
