Community-wide Celebration to Honor the Anniversary of Muhammad Ali’s Passing, Enhance Louisville’s Tourism, and Boost Global Identity of Louisville, Kentucky
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (April 10, 2019) — The Third Annual ALI WEEK will take place in Muhammad Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky June 1-9, 2019, to mark the anniversary of Ali’s passing and to celebrate his worldwide impact and love for Louisville. With support from, and in collaboration with, the City of Louisville, Louisville Tourism, and the Louisville Airport Authority, the Muhammad Ali Center is leading an effort to offer and encourage community-wide events that help attract additional tourism to the City and to boost Louisville’s global identity. Having broad community participation in this annual ritual will raise additional awareness about what Louisville has to offer to local and out-of-town visitors, boost economic impact, and also help celebrate the City’s potential for increased greatness at the same time.
The Ali Center is planning a wide array of events during Ali Week, including, in part: An opening Ali Week Carnival; an Accessing the Archives Tour; a community service project for the homeless; a Stories of Ali event; a free Ali Film Festival, exhibit admission discounts and retail items; and an interfaith memorial and candlelight vigil.
In addition, many community partners have already announced their participation with events such as: “Ali Appreciation Night” with the Louisville Bats at Slugger Field; the unveiling of new branding material for the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport; a Six Core Principle Flow yoga event with 502 Power Yoga and Soul Cleanse Yoga; a new event with Louisville Magazine surrounding community discussion; the Parkinson’s Moving Day Walk; the screening of Louisville’s City of Ali documentary; Le Moo and Village Anchor restaurant nights;introduction of IDEAS xLab’s Guide to Greatness; “A Kid, A Cop, and A Cause,” at Fourth Street Live!; a Louisville Tourism Ali Week Lunchtime Event; special Louisville Quests; and much more!
In speaking about the significance of continuing and growing the annual Ali Week, Mayor Greg Fischer said, “We need city to speak out – proudly and loudly and much more often – about the fact that Muhammad Ali belonged to the world, but he only had one hometown – Louisville. The Champ loved to brag on our city, and we need to take a page from his book. Ali’s name, history in our city and enduring popularity are unique assets that we should embrace as we work to boost our city’s global identity, and Ali Week is a great part of that.”
Donald Lassere, President and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center said, “When Muhammad Ali passed away on June 3, 2016, the eyes of the world were upon his hometown. During that week, Louisville, Kentucky became a concrete and large scale example to the rest of the world of what diversity,solidarity, and respect looked like and felt like. The Ali Center and its community partners hope that by having and growing the annual Ali Week, we can keep Muhammad’s legacy alive.”
Karen Williams, President and CEO of Louisville Tourism said, “The legacy of Muhammad Ali continues to inspire people around the world and Louisville offers a place to celebrate his life and learn more about‘The Greatest.’ While visitors can follow Ali’s “Footsteps of Greatness”year-round with a self-guided tour of touch points such as the Muhammad Ali Center and Cave Hill Cemetery among others, the Ali Week events offer additional incentive to make June 1 – 9 a culturally enriched time for fans to visit Ali’s Louisville.”
Louisville-based businesses—attractions, restaurants, hotels, and any other organizations who are interested in becoming involved in the annual Ali Week—should contact Tori Collins at the Ali Center: tcollins@alicenter.org or 502.992.5338. Or go to the Ali Week landing page at www.alicenter.org/ali-weekfor more information.