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Rio Olympic official confident about golf plans

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN WADE
AP Sports Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A top Olympic official is confident a lawsuit against the city of Rio de Janeiro and a golf course developer will not prevent a test event from taking place before the 2016 games.

“Our understanding today is that we will be ready for the first test event which will be needed to be done for the golf.” Gilbert Felli, an IOC-appointed adviser to the Rio organizing committee, told The Associated Press late Tuesday at a meeting of the Brazilian Olympic Committee.

“We are satisfied on the progress we see today,” Felli added. “But we are not playing tomorrow. We know that we are going to play for the test event.”

Officials of the International Golf Federation, which oversees the games, have acknowledged the schedule will be tight to hold a test event late in 2015 or early in 2016. Any further delays will imperil the test event and again raise the questions about Rio’s preparations, which have been severely criticized by several IOC members.

The course has been plagued by slowdowns dating back almost five years. Much of the controversy arises because the course is being built in a nature reserve, situated amid some of the most expensive real estate in suburban Rio; an area known as Barra da Tijuca.

In a hearing last week, judge Eduardo Klausner asked the defendants — the city and the developer — and the public prosecutor to find a way to protect the nature reserve. Construction could be stopped if a compromise isn’t reached.

The prosecutor wants some of the holes on the course to be altered, and is asking the developer to return some of the land to the ecological reserve.

It is unclear when Klausner’s final ruling will come. He has allowed sodding on the course to continue, which needs to be finished before Rio’s summer arrives in December.

Carlos Nuzman, head of the organizing committee and president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, said the matter was in the hands of the city and Mayor Eduardo Paes.

“Golf will be in the Olympics,” Nuzman said. “The city if responsible for the golf course.”

City officials have declined repeated requests from The Associated Press to visit the course, or speak about their proposed settlement.

A key developer in the golf-course project is Pasquale Mauro, one of the largest landowners in the region. Plans include 160 high-end apartments around the course that are selling for between $2.5 and $7 million. Penthouses are selling for more.

Critics say the development is more about real estate than golf, which is not a major sport in Brazil.

Golf officials have complained the developer has moved too slowly on the project and sped up only after a meeting six months ago with the city, the architect and local organizers.

The Rio area already has the Itanhanga Golf Club, which has been deemed good enough to host tournaments on the European Tour and the LPGA Tour. Club officials were optimistic a few years ago they would land the Olympics but the new course was commissioned instead.

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Stephen Wade on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StephenWadeAP

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Filipe de Almeida of AP partner agency SNTV contributed to this report.

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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