Local leader says there’s talk of Charlotte hosting Olympics

A local leader says there's talk of Charlotte hosting the Olympic Games. 

City Council member Michael Barnes said it this week in passing. 

"There's talk about a lot of large-scale events coming to the city,” he said. “Some folks have talked about the Olympics."

Eyewitness News picked up on the comment.  It sounded so far-fetched that Eyewitness News emailed him to find out who's been talking.  He said no formal group is pursuing this, but that some business leaders mentioned it. 

Other city leaders said they've heard discussion, too.  City Council member Patrick Cannon said he's not ruling it out. 

The DNC will put Charlotte in the international spotlight and all sorts of people may think about holding events here after that.

Complete coverage: DNC 2012

“We've always been that city that some people have seemingly slept on and, then, all of sudden, it hits and boom, it's wow,” he said.

You're probably thinking the same thing as Austin Waggoner:  "Charlotte could land it?  I don't know about that.  Charlotte's still kind of a small city."

But don't laugh just yet.  Sources gave Eyewitness News more of the back story and it may change your mind.  They said Atlanta hosted the DNC in 1988 and held the summer games eight years later.  That's why some Charlotteans are now thinking the Queen City hosts the DNC this year, then maybe the Olympics some time after 2020.

Still not so sure, but you like the thought?  Well, you're not alone. 

"It might be a little optimistic, but I still think it would be a great place for the Olympics,” Uptown worker Koreh LeValle said.