Muhammad Ali Center: Tenth Anniversary Celebration Draws More Than 1,700 Guests
The Muhammad Ali Center’s tenth anniversary celebration drew more than 1,700 guests on Saturday. In addition to free admission, visitors enjoyed complimentary arts and crafts, balloons, a documentary film, live music, and a scavenger hunt. Although Ali was unable to attend the celebration, Louisville Mayor Greg Fisher and former governor John Y. Brown were present for a re-dedication ceremony.
As reported by Lex18, the Muhammad Ali Center’s anniversary party was relatively low-key compared to the opening celebration in 2005. However, center spokeswoman Jeanie Kahnke said she and her colleagues “are over the moon about the attendance and the support and enthusiasm” of the guests.
As discussed on the official website, the Muhammad Ali center is far more than a simple museum. Although the interactive museum is a core element, the center also features educational programming and special events — which are designed “to promote respect, hope, and understanding, and to inspire adults and children everywhere to be as great as they can be.”
The museum, its educational programming, and special events, were envisioned by Ali and his wife Yolanda as a forum to promote Muhammad’s six core principles: confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect, and spirituality.
As reported by Biography, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. was raised in Louisville, Kentucky, amid strong racial discrimination and segregation.
At the age of 12, Clay approached police officer Joe Martin to report that his bicycle was stolen. While discussing the theft, the boy insisted he would eventually catch the thief and beat him up. As Martin was also a boxing instructor, he encouraged Clay to redirect his anger and frustration in a constructive way. Because he believed the boy had potential, Joe Martin offered to teach him how to box.
“Rakibim kim olursa olsun, seyircinin yar?s?n?n yenildi?imi görmeye gelmesine al??m??t?m.” [ Muhammed Ali Clay ] pic.twitter.com/jgruF5N4Uh
— Tweetucu ???? (@Tweetucu) November 12, 2015
Over the next six years, Cassius Clay proved to be a dedicated and talented boxer. Before the age of 18, the young man won an impressive number of fights and was named National Golden Gloves Light Heavyweight Champion and National Amateur Athletic Union Champion.
At the age of 18, Clay was chosen for the United States Olympic boxing team. During the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, the young man won the light heavyweight gold metal. Four years later, he was named the heavyweight champion of the world.
Muhammed Ali dropping knowledge pic.twitter.com/dKgZkAnbe9
— PhillyO (@PhillyOh) November 17, 2015
Later that same year, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. joined the Nation of Islam and subsequently changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
Although he retired in 1981, the talented boxer amassed numerous honors — including being named the heavyweight champion of the world three times. As reported by JRank.com, he was also named Fighter of the Year, Sportsman of the Year, and honored with a Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Award.
Three years following his retirement, Muhammad Ali announced he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Although he suffered numerous ailments associated with the neurological condition, the former boxer traveled the world to help those in need.
In addition to his support of the Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Ali became a United Nations Messenger of Peace.
In 2005, Ali opened the Muhammad Ali Center as “a place that would inspire people to be the best that they could be at whatever they chose to do, and to encourage them to be respectful of one another.”
Although he was unable to attend the tenth anniversary celebration, the center remains one of Ali’s most beloved projects.
In cooperation with the Muhammad Ali Center, Shinola recently debuted a limited edition collection of items inspired by the former boxer.
As reported by Vogue, the collection includes a red and white bicycle, a special edition watch, a picture book, boxing gloves, a “Cassius Clay” sweatshirt, and a Muhammad Ali boxing robe.
[Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research]
