Charlotte officially named Military World Games host. It could juice the economy
The eighth CISM Military World Summer Games is officially coming to Charlotte in 2027.
The International Military Sports Council announced the selection Thursday in a news release. The selection marks the first time the games will be played in the United States.
“Charlotte’s outstanding sporting facilities, organizational expertise and commitment to the values of CISM make it the ideal host for this historic event,” council president Col. Nilton Rolim said in the release.
The games are estimated to have the potential to generate about $3 billion in revenue for the state, according to an economic study of the games previously cited by Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C.
What are the Military World Summer Games?
Starting in 1995, the military games is one of the largest multi-sporting events, second to the Olympic Games. Its goal is to promote peace and cultural exchanges between militaries from across the world in friendly competitions.
About 10,000 military athletes from over 100 countries will participate in 25 sports, including traditional games such as archery, boxing and diving, as well as military competitions like aeronautical pentathlon and naval pentathlon.
The last summer games were held in 2019 in China.
It’s unclear when the games will start in Charlotte.
Why Charlotte for the military games?
With the city’s sporting venues, history of hosting international sporting events and being a tourism hub for sports, the council agreed Charlotte should be its next destination.
Budd began urging the Pentagon to consider putting in a bid for North Carolina to host the games last spring.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and 12 of North Carolina’s 14 House members sent a letter to the Department of Defense agreeing with Budd.
The economic impact could be significant.
The influx of people associated with the games will provide a boost to the economy especially for the hospitality, tourism and service industries, according to the release.
