Judge refuses to block land of Olympic golf course

SAO PAULO (AP) Rio 2016 organizers won a legal dispute when a judge decided not to annul contracts and block construction on disputed land for the Olympic golf course.

The judge denied the request made by the company disputing the ownership of the land, saying that the current owner can use the area while a higher court decides on the ownership.

The lawyer for Elmway Participacoes said Thursday he will appeal.

The judge's decision on Wednesday does not directly affect the legal dispute over the land, which is in the hands of Brazil's Higher Court of Justice and could take months or years to be decided.

The course will be designed by American Gil Hanse. Golf will return to the Olympics in Rio after an absence of more than 100 years.

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