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IOC: Rio’s Olympic preparations boosted by WCup

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN WILSON
AP Sports Writer

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The smooth running of the World Cup has lifted the mood of Brazilians and given them the confidence to overcome delays and deliver the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro on time, the IOC’s point man on the games said Tuesday.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, IOC executive director Gilbert Felli said the situation has improved since he was dispatched as a special troubleshooter for Rio two months ago. He said there is no reason to panic and that Brazilian organizers will complete the mountain of work still needed over the next two years — with constant monitoring.

Speaking in his office at the International Olympic Committee headquarters in Lausanne, Felli said there are no plans to move any venues as some sports federations had feared, and he predicted that most construction projects will be back on schedule by the end of September.

“Of course it remains tense, very tense, but we should look with more optimism,” Felli said in his first extensive interview since being handed the Rio assignment in April. “Until the games are delivered I’m always concerned. But it’s not the case to say we’re not going to make it. … My view is we will make it and the Brazilians will deliver excellent games. But we have to work every day for it. Nothing is a done deal.”

While serious concerns remain over tight deadlines, the shortage of hotel rooms and severe water pollution at the sailing venue, Felli said the World Cup has instilled a new sense of optimism in Brazil about organizing the first Olympics in South America.

“The perception of the World Cup is that it’s positive,” he said. “We can see the reverse of the mood of the Brazilians about the World Cup. … The perception of the Brazilians is much more positive. It’s good for the games. They have better trust in themselves to deliver the games.”

The buildup to the World Cup was also plagued by chronic delays, with some stadiums barely completed at the last minute. But since the tournament began, there has been no major organizational crisis.

“The risk is that they say, ‘You see, no problem, don’t worry because we did it,'” Felli said, adding that Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes is determined not to fall into that trap.

Felli said Paes told him: “I don’t want to be last minute to deliver the games. I got my lesson about the perception of the people about the World Cup. I don’t want to be in this situation. I want to be ready before.”

Part of the issue, Felli said, is a cultural one: Doing things at the last minute is customary for many Brazilians.

“They like adrenaline, to be pushed in the last minute on some issues,” he said. “So then we try to explain the games cannot be like this. We’ve been able to explain that.”

Felli was assigned by the IOC to tackle the Rio crisis after a meeting in Belek, Turkey, in April in which nearly 20 summer sports federations publicly voiced serious concerns over the delays. A special IOC task force was also formed.

“Personally I didn’t believe it was as bad as some have said,” Felli said. “I was not as alarmed.”

Since then, Felli has made two trips to Rio, staying for two weeks at a time. He is flying to Rio on Wednesday with IOC President Thomas Bach, who will attend Sunday’s World Cup final at the Maracana stadium. Bach is also expected to meet with government officials and Olympic organizers during his stay.

“I think we have seen a change of approach since Belek,” Felli said. “There is a good understanding of our concerns now among the authorities. They have been taking action. But all of that has to be monitored on a daily basis and (they cannot) lose any time.”

The IOC executive board will review the Rio planning situation on Wednesday. Felli will give an update on his mission, while Rio organizing committee chief Carlos Nuzman will make his latest progress report.

With his term as the IOC’s executive director of the Olympic Games finishing at the end of August, Felli will travel to Rio more often. He plans to stay in the city for extended periods but won’t move there full-time, at least not now.

“When you stay on the spot, you start to be part of the furniture,” he said.

___

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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