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France still considering Paris bid for 2024 Games

By WTOP Staff

SAMUEL PETREQUIN
AP Sports Writer

PARIS (AP) — French officials are still considering a possible Paris bid for the 2024 Olympics, even though Prime Minister Manuel Valls has endorsed the city’s candidacy to host the 2025 World Expo.

Officials at the French presidency and French Olympic Committee told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Valls’ backing for the world’s fair does not mean that Paris would be unable to bid for the Olympics.

While France’s economic recovery is the top priority of Valls’ government, the two projects would require huge funding that has yet to be finalized. But Nathalie Iannetta, the sports adviser to French President Francois Hollande, said both events could be pursued at the same time.

“The investments that will be made will benefit both projects,” she said in a telephone interview.

Bernard Lapasset, who heads the French Committee for International Sport, said the proximity of the two events could even be an asset for France.

“We’ll obviously need to be careful with the finances, but look what happened with Japan,” Lapasset, who also heads the International Rugby Board, told the AP. “They won the rights to host the rugby World Cup in 2019 and the 2020 Olympics.”

Bids for the 2025 expo are due in 2016, with a vote in 2018. Bids for the Olympics must be submitted next year, with the IOC vote in 2017.

Paris is one of several cities that have expressed interest in hosting the 2024 Games. Cities in the United States, Italy, Germany, South Africa, Qatar, Hungary and Turkey are among potential contenders.

Iannetta said the results of a feasibility study by the French Olympic Committee due early next year will be crucial in deciding whether Paris should bid for the games.

“If it shows that a Paris bid is pertinent and that we have good chances to win, then the World Expo bid won’t be an obstacle,” Iannetta said.

The French Olympic Committee issued a statement saying the feasibility study was being conducted by leaders from the sporting, political and business worlds working together “on a common road map.”

A first hint on whether Paris might bid for the games is expected to come on Nov. 4, when the conclusions of 12 workshops on the issue will be made public. Organizers will then need to examine the financial issues.

Lapasset added that the outcome of the International Olympic Committee session in Monaco in December will be carefully taken into account before a decision is made. IOC President Thomas Bach is proposing changes to the bidding process as part of his package of “Olympic Agenda 2020” reforms.

By 2024, it will have been 100 years since France last staged the Summer Olympics in Paris in 1924, but Lapasset insisted this is not a good enough reason to put a bid forward.

“Everybody wants the games,” Lapasset said. “But this won’t be the reason behind a bid. We will only go ahead if there is a place to take.”

Paris was considered the favorite in the bidding for the 2012 Olympics but lost out to London. Paris also was unsuccessful in a bid for the 2008 Games, which went to Beijing.

France decided not to bid for the 2020 Olympics after the French bid from Annecy was humiliated in the race for the 2018 Winter Games, receiving only seven votes in an election won by Pyeongchang, South Korea.

French President Francois Hollande has said he would back a 2024 Paris bid only if “all the conditions of success are present.”

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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