Rio de Janeiro's Olympic golf course -- slowed by environmental lawsuits, land ownership disputes and doubts it even needed to be built -- "was handed over Sunday to organizers of next year's games," according to Stephen Wade of the AP. Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes "spent 15 minutes defending the course, built in the wealthy neighborhood of Barra da Tijuca, where most Olympic venues will be located." Paes said, "If you are in politics, you always have to spend some time defending your point of view." Paes "spoke to several hundred guests and repeatedly thanked billionaire developer Pasquale Mauro, who stood alongside him." The developer is spending about R60M ($16.2M) "to build the course." He "is also constructing luxury marble and glass high-rise apartments around the layout, which was created from a nature reserve." The course "is to remain public for at least 20 years, joining two private clubs in Rio." The course "took three years to build." Lawsuits by environmentalists "also slowed development, and there were several legal disputes about who owns the property, some of the most expensive land in the western Rio suburb" (AP, 11/23).
