Charlotte tab for major sports event could hit $80 million
One of the leaders of Charlotte's successful bid to host the 2027 CISM World Military Summer Games said Thursday that staging the event will likely cost $80 million — expenses expected to be covered by a combination of sponsorships, ticket sales, private contributions and, potentially, state government incentives.
The International Military Sports Council, known as CISM, operates the Olympic-style competition. In 2027, 10,000 military members from 100 countries are expected to compete in Charlotte and surrounding areas.
Advertisement
READ: Pentagon approves Charlotte to host 2027 Military World Games, a US first
CISM's Summer Games have been held seven times — Charlotte will be the eighth host — and debuted in 1995 in Rome. Billed as a 'global celebration of military sportsmanship and camaraderie,' the World Military Games include competition in traditional sports and military skills such as target shooting, parachuting and the naval pentathlon.
Ike Belk and David Koerner, who started and run the U.S. Performance Center, located on the campus of UNC Charlotte, spent the past year lobbying and bidding to host the Summer Games. UNC Charlotte and Charlotte Motor Speedway are among the venues that will host events in 2027, Belk and Greater Charlotte Hospitality & Tourism Alliance CEO Mohammad Jenatian told CBJ.
Read more here.
WATCH: Pentagon approves Charlotte to host 2027 Military World Games, a US first
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Jets' Sauce Gardner Makes Decision on Flag Football Olympics Involvement
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The NFL has expanded its global reach for many years, and now there is a chance that many players could represent the United States in the 2028 Olympics. The sport of Flag Football has been approved as a sport, and this has led to much debate over professional football players participating in the sport. More news: Missouri Approves Millions to Keep Chiefs From Relocating Naturally, the world of professional flag football players is chock-full of elite athletes who would want to win a medal at the Olympics. However, NFL players are also in that same boat. While current NFL stars like Matthew Stafford and Patrick Mahomes have stated they are unlikely to participate, New York Jets star Sauce Gardner has stated he would be open to representing the U.S. Jets CB Sauce Gardner on potentially playing Olympic flag football: "I like it. I definitely would be interested in it, being able to play for my country. I think it's a big deal because every time it's the Olympics, I'm always watching, I'm always tuned in." — Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) June 12, 2025 While speaking to the press, Gardner was asked if he would want to play Olympic flag football. He stated: "I like it. I definitely would be interested in it, being able to play for my country. I think it's a big deal because every time it's the Olympics, I'm always watching, I'm always tuned in." Winning the Super Bowl and entering the Hall of Fame are two of the greatest honors the NFL world has to offer, but to be able to represent your country in the Olympics is something far different. JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 15: Sauce Gardner #1 of the New York Jets walks off of the field after warming up prior to an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on... JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 15: Sauce Gardner #1 of the New York Jets walks off of the field after warming up prior to an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Jacksonville, FL. Sauce Gardner appears to take shots at his own team on social media. MoreMore news: Recently Released Defensive Star Signs One-Year Deal With Raiders The Olympics have long had hockey and basketball in the ranks, but football has never been given that chance. Flag football is categorically different, but the rules and play are derived from the game of football. That said, it would be believed that NFL players would be the first ones to be called on to represent the United States. It will be interesting to see how the selection committee handles which athletes are going to be part of Team USA for flag football. There is likely to be some sort of tryout to figure out the best team possible, and there are likely to be many NFL players who are going to try to participate in the Olympics. As far as Gardner goes, he is one of the league's best defenders, and the flag football team would likely be far better with him on the squad. For now, the NFL and Olympics selection committee are going to have their hands full with trying to find a middle ground on who gets the honor of representing the U.S. in the first-ever Olympic football event. More NFL: Deion Sanders Offers Major Update Amid Health Scare News For more on the Jets and NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Los Angeles Grand Slam Track meeting cancelled: sources
Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track series has cancelled its final leg in Los Angeles later this month due to economic reasons (Ricardo Makyn) The Los Angeles leg of Michael Johnson's inaugural Grand Slam Track athletics series has been cancelled for economic reasons, multiple sources confirmed to AFP on Thursday. The fourth and final stop on the new circuit had been due to take place at Los Angeles' Drake Stadium from June 28-29. Advertisement However sources with knowledge of the situation told AFP Thursday that the meeting had now been scrapped due to "poor economics". An official announcement on the meeting's cancellation is expected later Thursday. Sources said Johnson was due to hold a video call with athletes and their representatives following Thursday's Diamond League meeting in Oslo to confirm the move. Reports in the United States and Britain said the cancellation was made due to the failure to secure adequate sponsorship and broadcast revenue for the league, which was launched in Kingston, Jamaica in April. Advertisement Ticket sales for the Los Angeles event had also been sluggish, reports said, with Britain's The Times saying the decision to cancel would save organisers around $3 million in prize money and travel expenses. The cancellation is a stinging blow to Johnson's hopes of revolutionising athletics through the circuit, which was launched as part of an attempt to reinvigorate interest in the sport after years of decline. Johnson's stated goal of Grand Slam Track was to produce a more concentrated format which promised more head-to-head races between the world's best athletes. However while the series was able to recruit stars such as US Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas and 400m hurdles icon Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, it failed to recruit a slew of top sprinting talent including the reigning men's and women's 100m champions Noah Lyles and Julien Alfred. Advertisement The series offered athletes prize money of up to $100,000 for their overall standings after participating in two races at each meet. However while athletes expressed enthusiasm for the series, there were clear signs it had failed to capture the imagination of fans. Swathes of empty seats were seen at the opening meeting in Kingston, while for the third meeting in Philadelphia, the program was cut from three days to two days. US Olympic 400m hurdles champion Rai Benjamin had been among the athletes expressing scepticism over Grand Slam Track's chances of success. "I look at it as a business," Benjamin said before the opening meeting in April. "At the end of the day, if there's no ROI (return on investment), then you have a failed business model. And it's like, how long could you be sustainable? Advertisement "They're not going to make any money this year, they're not going to make any money next year." Johnson however brushed off those concerns, adamant that the series would generate interest once launched. "I've started several successful businesses in my life and not a single one was profitable in year one," Johnson said. "That's not how you build businesses. "But when you say we're going to get 48 of the best athletes in the world contracted to go head-to-head, people start to pay attention." rcw/jc
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Australia and South Africa wickets tumble to leave WTC final on a knife-edge
This final has been dubbed 'The Ultimate Test' and though almost certainly the product of a W1A-style ideas splurge back in Dubai, this tagline scarcely felt more appropriate watching the wickets tumble for a second successive day. It had looked for all money like Pat Cummins had sealed the fate of the World Test Championship mace. Thundering in from the Nursery End, a four-wicket burst after lunch had seen him claim six for 28 and with South Africa all out for 138 in 57.1 overs – 74 behind – all it needed was a further top-up of runs. Advertisement Related: South Africa v Australia: World Test Championship final cricket, day two – live Instead, with help from a beige surface that has still delivered a bat's width of nibble throughout, South Africa delivered a stirring fightback of their own. At stumps Australia were 144 for eight – a lead of 218 runs – and the spectators who witnessed the carnage unfold could finally draw breath. Some of them were probably querying the pitch on the way out. But 28 wickets falling in the space of six sessions may say as much about how bowlers can adjust quicker to a one-off showpiece. After a rusty first day, Lungi Ngidi was the last of them to get up to speed, his cheap removals of Steve Smith and Beau Webster amid figures of three for 35 dragging South Africa back into contention. Their heads could easily have dropped after the onslaught from Cummins that took him to 300 Test wickets. There could also have been a few envious glances cast by Kagiso Rabada, star of the first innings. As unrelenting as he was, Australia's captain had profited from a collective asphyxiation that, among the frontliners, saw only Mitchell Starc go at more than two runs per over. Advertisement But after once again making early inroads – Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green nicking off cheaply once again – the South African cavalry arrived. And in the space of 25 dizzying overs Australia were suddenly 73 for seven. By the close the defending champions were grateful to Alex Carey for a nuggety 43 that, along with support from Starc, meant the chase would require the highest total of the match. South Africa will be hoping the top order that crumbled to 43 for four on the first evening can find their feet second time around. A bit like the World Cup semi-final in Kolkata 18 months ago, their initial effort had felt like a Chinese finger trap, every wriggle making things tighter. There was some defiance, Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham throwing the odd counter punch, but the task was arduous. Having shut down Bavuma for 36 via a loose shot to cover, Cummins simply came into his own after the lunch interval. Smashing the surface with remorseless accuracy, a spell of four overs, four for three – closed off by a wonderful diving catch by Webster in the deep – felt utterly game-breaking at the time. It had started with a scene straight from Super Rugby, Cummins appealing for an lbw against Kyle Verreynne and summarily flattened as his mark attempted a single. Cummins cared only for the review, however, and when three reds appeared on the big screen, he was suddenly in a scrum of jubilant teammates. Advertisement This was the first of five wickets to fall for just 12 runs, as well as the first of two in the over courtesy of a return catch from Jansen, but most critical was that of Bedingham. Though typically a dasher for Durham, the right-hander had ground his way to 45 only to be undone on the backfoot by a classical edge behind. • More to follow
