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IOC on Rio: ‘Lot of progress’ but schedule ‘tight’

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN WADE
AP Sports Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Preparations for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro have made “a lot of progress” in the last six months but the schedule “remains tight,” the head of the IOC’s inspection team said Wednesday.

Nawal El Moutawakel, who ended a three-day visit to Rio, was upbeat in nearly all her comments. This contrasts sharply with the situation about six months ago when one IOC member described the preparations as the “worst” in recent history.

Nawal said the main concern was hotel rooms and the pace of building venues. She said 68 hotels were under construction in Rio.

“Accommodation was always going to be a challenge with the large number of hotels that have to be built,” Nawal said.

Nawal said 44 test events must be held before the games, with venue construction on a tight schedule at the main Olympic Park and the second cluster in Deodoro in northern Rio. Ground was only broken a few months ago at Deodoro.

“I think Rio and Brazil will experience a full transformation of the city,” she said. “The games (will) have an impact on the population and on the entire country. The Olympic Games is something that is going to bring plenty of positive aspects.”

Christophe Dubi, who has taken over from Gilbert Felli as the new IOC executive director of the Olympic Games, was clear about the task ahead for organizers.

“We’re inside the two years and we are facing an amount of work that has to be delivered on a day-to-day basis,” Dubi said. “There is no express deep concern that keeps us awake at night. However, at the same time we are in that critical phase and a lot will have to be done.”

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who is in a re-election battle, visited the Olympic Park in suburban Barra da Tijuca on Tuesday as part of a campaign stop. The first round of voting is Sunday with Rousseff expected to reach the decisive second round on Oct. 26 against challenger Marina Silva.

Spending on the Olympics is expected to reach $20 billion, a mix of public and private money.

Brazil, which has just entered into what most economists define as a recession, also spent about $11 billion to host this year’s World Cup.

IOC member Carlos Nuzman, head of the Rio organizing committee, declined to answer several questions about the Olympic golf course under construction.

The city and the developer are being sued over alleged violations of environmental rules in building the course, which is centered in a nature reserve just a few miles (kilometers) from the Olympic Park.

The golf course is being built alongside 160 high-end apartments that are selling for between $2.5 and $7 million. A penthouse is even more expensive.

“This is a question for the city,” he said repeatedly.

No representative from the city was available to answer questions about the litigation, which may halt construction at the course. A judge is expected to rule in the next few weeks if the developer must alter the course design and hand back a parcel of land to the nature reserve.

Golf is returning to the Olympics for the first time in 112 years.

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

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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