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What worries? Brazil World Cup scores high

By WTOP Staff

GERALD IMRAY
AP Sports Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil’s World Cup organizers can say it now: “Esta tudo bem” — it’s all OK. What was everyone so worried about?

After being plagued by doubts over whether the stadiums would be ready and stay standing, and if Brazil’s people would join in the fun or try to spoil it, their tournament is a winner. Even if the Brazilian team fell disastrously short.

Memorable games, fantastic goals and, overall, one joyous monthlong party from Copacabana beach to the Amazon jungle will be the story of Brazil 2014. The Associated Press takes a look back at the World Cup, rated as one of the best in years despite pre-event worries it could be one of the most shambolic.

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THE GAMES:

They were great and the flavor of the football sweetened this World Cup. The goals flew in, giving the tournament a record-equaling goal total and a healthy game average. The quality was high as well: Robin van Persie’s diving header for the Netherlands, Lionel Messi’s moments of magic for Argentina and James Rodriguez’s audacious turn-and-volley for Colombia will be remembered for World Cups to come.

And what about some of the results? The Dutch beating defending champion Spain 5-1. Little Costa Rica making the quarterfinals. And, even if devastated Brazil fans are desperate to forget it, Germany’s 7-1 dismantling of the home team in the semifinals — an awesome display of power and precision.

Apparently, the world was watching too: TV companies in the United States reported record viewing figures for a World Cup, some a 100 percent rise on previous tournaments. FIFA says there were more tweets from across the globe about the Brazil-Germany game than any sports event ever.

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THE STADIUMS:

One of the two biggest headaches for Brazil coming into the World Cup. Ultimately, the stadiums weren’t perfect, but they worked out. Chronic delays, accidents and worker deaths marred the construction of some of the 12 venues used across the vast country — like Sao Paulo’s Itaquerao Stadium, where the roof wasn’t completed. Temporary seating was also used there.

But that didn’t detract from the football, and unlike South Africa last time, the stadiums were pretty much full to the brim. FIFA’s final count said Brazil’s average and total attendances were the second-highest ever for a World Cup behind the U.S. in 1994. The average attendance in 2014 was 53,592 and over 3.4 million people watched the 64 games at the stadiums.

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SECURITY & ORGANIZATION:

FIFA and Brazilian organizers were given a rude awakening when nearly 100 Chile fans broke into Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium — the showpiece arena — ahead of a group game and rampaged through a media room, breaking down walls and causing havoc. The incident was deeply embarrassing.

But widespread and violent street protests — the organizers’ other main worry alongside the unfinished stadiums — never happened. Fears of a repeat of the outbursts of anger that overshadowed last year’s Confederations Cup, when over 1 million people took to the streets on one day, were misplaced. There were small protests but they were marginal to the World Cup. More than 25,000 police and soldiers secured Sunday’s final, the biggest security detail in Brazilian history. There was no messing around.

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TRANSPORT & INFRASTRUCTURE:

It should be remembered that Brazil broke many of its World Cup promises. When the country was awarded hosting rights in 2007, politicians vowed that $8 billion would be spent on 56 construction projects, including new airports, subway lines and other infrastructure. Fewer than 10 were completed in time for the tournament. Among those delayed was a road overpass in the host city of Belo Horizonte, which collapsed during the World Cup killing two people.

The sometimes rickety existing metro systems in the biggest cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro did hold up, however, carrying supporters to stadiums without any major problems. The roads all over were often clogged but that’s an old Brazilian issue and fans just learned to give themselves more time to get to those games.

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THE FAN EXPERIENCE:

Unique. On those days when their team wasn’t playing, football followers could explore the huge metropolis of Sao Paulo with its 20 million-plus inhabitants, the golden beaches of Rio de Janeiro or the jungles of the Amazon host city of Manaus in the far north. Many did all of them over the four weeks and still had the energy for the late-night bars and restaurants and their delicious but lethal Caipirinha sugar cane cocktails. Visitors did complain about muggings and credit card fraud, though. Some tourists may have also been surprised by the prices. A great experience, but not always a cheap one.

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JUST ONE THING: WHERE WAS PELE?

You can’t say football, World Cup or Brazil without also saying Pele, the greatest player that’s lived and the country’s favorite son. And yet the three-time World Cup winner was a rare sight at the first showcase on his home soil in 64 years, the first since the great man was a nine-year-old kid dreaming of playing at football’s main event.

The star of the show for the closing ceremony should have been an obvious choice. Instead, organizers chose Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen to accompany former Spain international Carles Puyol in bringing the gold trophy out onto the field at the Maracana for the final. It should have been Pele, who has lifted the World Cup more times than anyone else and is probably the biggest reason why Brazil is the spiritual home of football.

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Follow Gerald Imray on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GeraldImrayAP

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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