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US Louisville airport to be renamed after boxing star Muhammad Ali
Fondly known as "The Greatest", Ali is one of the most celebrated boxers of all time. He was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and began training as an amateur boxer when he was just 12 years old.
Washington: The hometown of boxing legend Muhammad Ali is all set to rename its Louisville International Airport to the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport by June, on the occasion of "I Am Ali" festival, celebrated in his honour.
Plans to rename the US's Kentucky state based airport came a day before the death-anniversary of late heavyweight boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who died in 2016.
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Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said on Wednesday that Ali had inspired billions of people around the world with his boxing accolades as well as his openness about his conversion to the Muslim faith, according to the Courier-Journal.
"Muhammad Ali belonged to the world, but he only had one hometown, and fortunately, that is our great city of Louisville," Fischer said.
"Muhammad became one of the most well-known people to ever walk the Earth and has left a legacy of humanitarianism and athleticism that has inspired billions of people."
"It is important that we, as a city, further champion the champ's legacy... and the airport renaming is a wonderful next step," Mayor Fischer added.
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Currently the Airport officials are working on receiving an approval from Ali's family for using his name, as their consent is needed. According to an official an agreement was near.
"I think we are 99 percent there with that agreement, so that would really be the second step which we think we can execute in the next week or two," said Dan Mann, Executive Director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority.
Fondly known as "The Greatest", Ali is one of the most celebrated boxers of all time. He was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and began training as an amateur boxer when he was just 12 years old.
In 1981, Ali took a retirement from boxing at the age of 39, and devoted himself to charity and practice religion.
In 1984, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's syndrome, and on June 3, 2016, he bid this world good-bye, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
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