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Final 3: IOC set to keep 3 bids for 2022 Games

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN WILSON
AP Sports Writer

Olympic leaders meet Monday to decide which cities make the cut in the race for the 2022 Winter Games. It should be an easy choice.

After a series of voter rejections and city withdrawals, only three contenders are left standing — and the future of one remains uncertain.

The International Olympic Committee executive board is expected to keep all three remaining candidates: Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; and Oslo.

Also on the agenda for the three-day meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, is an update on Rio de Janeiro’s delayed preparations for the 2016 Olympics, possible venue changes for the 2020 Tokyo Games and a review of IOC President Thomas Bach’s plans for the future of the Olympic movement.

Five things at play at the Olympic meetings:

WINTER OF DISCONTENT: The Ukrainian bid from Lviv dropped out of the 2022 race last week amid the continuing turmoil in the country and will focus on 2026 instead. Krakow pulled out earlier after Polish voters rejected the bid. Stockholm withdrew previously after politicians refused to give financial backing. Potential bids from Switzerland and Germany were abandoned after voters said no in referendums.

No need then for the IOC to pare the field any further. Almaty, Beijing and Oslo should be safe.

“I think the three can go through,” IOC executive board member Sergei Bubka told The Associated Press. “Normally we do a short list. Maybe in this case, we don’t need it.”

Oslo’s bid remains in limbo. The Norwegian government has yet to back the project and won’t make a decision until the autumn. Polls have shown that more than half the population opposes the games. It’s possible only two cities could be left in contention by the end of the year.

At this stage, Almaty, which hosted the 2011 Asian Winter Games, would appear the favorite. But plenty of things can happen before the host city is selected in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 31, 2015.

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RIO DELAYS: The relatively smooth running of the World Cup in Brazil has alleviated some of the concerns about Rio’s troubled preparations for the 2016 Games, recently described by IOC Vice President John Coates as the worst he’s ever seen. Once the World Cup is over, the pressure will be back on Rio organizers. The IOC has already enacted emergency measures, including dispatching veteran administrator Gilbert Felli to work on site with local organizers.

In one positive sign, Rio finally began work this week on the long-delayed Deodoro complex, which is to host venues for 11 Olympic sports. Meanwhile, serious concerns remain over pollution in Guanabara Bay, venue for the sailing competition, and delays in building the course for golf’s return to the Olympics after more than a century.

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TOKYO TIME: Tokyo is experiencing turbulence in its preparations for 2020, just months after being awarded the games. Concerned by soaring costs, Japanese organizers have decided to review their venue plans and consider switching some sites. Plans for a new futuristic Olympic Stadium are drawing criticism and protests. About 500 demonstrators marched Saturday against plans to destroy the existing 56-year-old national stadium and replace it with a new one. Critics say the proposed 80,000-seat stadium, designed by British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, is too big, too costly and clashes with Tokyo’s urban planning.

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BACH’S AGENDA: A main focus of the meetings will be “Olympic Agenda 2020,” Bach’s blueprint for the future. Fourteen working groups recently met in Lausanne to begin formulating proposals. Key areas include possible changes to the bidding process, sports program and age limits for IOC members, and creation of an Olympic TV channel. Recommendations will be voted on in Monaco in December.

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BACH’s BACK: Bach has been on a whirlwind of trips around the world since becoming president in September. He just recently returned from Japan and South Korea. With the board meeting starting Monday morning, Bach didn’t make it to Wimbledon for this weekend’s finals. Former IOC President Jacques Rogge was in the Royal Box instead on Saturday to watch Petra Kvitova capture the women’s title.

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Follow Stephen Wilson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stevewilsonap

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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