PRESS CONFERENCE ON MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER

PRESS CONFERENCE ON MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER

An international cultural and educational facility aimed at sharing the legacy and ideals of personal empowerment, respect, hope and peace of Muhammad Ali would open its doors to the public on 21 November in the champion boxer’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

Speaking to correspondents at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon, Lonnie Ali, Mr. Ali’s wife and co-founder of the Muhammad Ali Center, said the $82 million, six-story facility would feature exhibits, galleries and educational programmes, particularly for children, to promote the core values of the legendary boxer turned global peacemaker and humanitarian -- respect, confidence, conviction, dedication, giving and spirituality.

The Center, whose construction was funded by private donations, would use those values as a guide to teach and inspire others to pursue their own dreams and respect and help others.

“The ideals of the United Nations -- its very purpose as set forth in its Charter -- are so closely aligned with the vision and purpose of the Ali Center”, Mrs. Ali said.  Noting that the Center would have a global impact, she urged attendees to generate awareness of its ideals in their respective countries.

She said Mr. Ali had travelled worldwide to promote peace and understanding, including throughout the United States, Afghanistan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iraq, Iran, South Africa, Sudan, Pakistan and Côte d’Ivoire.  The Center would build on Mr. Ali’s international peacebuilding efforts.

Shashi Tharoor, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, who moderated the briefing, called Mr. Ali a “spectacularly successful” United Nations Messenger of Peace, working tirelessly to raise awareness of a wide range of issues, including children’s rights, eradication of poverty and hunger, promotion of peace in war-torn States, and support for victims of HIV/AIDS.

Michael Fox, Chief Executive Officer of the Mohammad Ali Center, noted that the Ali family had, many years ago, helped the United Nations lay the ideas and concepts of the “Schools for Global Peace Programme”, in which students learned about children living in armed conflict and explored the importance of fostering peace, understanding and tolerance.

The Ali Center would feature more than 40 interactive media exhibits and 10 major multimedia productions –- incorporating 19 different languages -- intended to evoke emotion while communicating compelling information.  United Nations Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie had underwritten two exhibits, including the “Homes and Dream” wall designed by Korean artist Ik-Joong Kang that was previously exhibited at the United Nations.  People worldwide could experience the Center at the following website:  www.alicenter.org.

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For information media • not an official record