For Ike Belk, sports have always been about more than competition. His grandfather and namesake spent decades involved in the U.S. Olympic movement, instilling in Belk a belief in sports’ power to bring people together. Now, Belk is carrying that legacy forward as co-founder of the U.S. Performance Center, which trains and supports Olympic and national-team athletes while working to establish Charlotte as a major hub for amateur sports.
In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, host Steve Dunn talks with Belk about the Performance Center’s work with hundreds of elite athletes, its research into injury prevention and rehabilitation, and why national governing bodies are increasingly looking to Charlotte as a place to train and compete.
They also look ahead to one of Belk’s biggest undertakings yet: bringing the 2027 World Military Games to Charlotte. The international competition is expected to bring athletes and military delegations from more than 100 countries to the region for Olympic-style events — and Belk hopes it will demonstrate Charlotte’s ability to host major international sporting events.
*This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is presented by Child Care Search. Does your search for child care have you stressed out? There’s a lot to consider — like quality, price, location, schedule, and more. At Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc., our knowledgeable navigators can help you find licensed care that fits your family’s needs! Visit www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for free, personalized guidance.*
This episode was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com.
