The US$75m (£43m, 64m euro) Muhammad Ali Center is set to open next week in the city where the boxing legend was born, Louisville, Kentucky, US.
The 93,000sq ft (8,640sq m) centre has been designed to continue Ali’s legacy and life’s work through a visitor experience and educational initiatives.
As well as a 24,000sq ft (2,230sq m) exhibition with 50 interactive stations, the centre will boast 10 theatres, classrooms, distance learning facilities, an auditorium, galleries, function rooms, a shop, café and public plaza.
The story of Ali’s life will be told through the interactive exhibition Journeylines, which will be presented thematically according to the six core values of his life: confidence, conviction, dedication, respect, spirituality and giving.
“Visitors will not only learn about Muhammad Ali, but will be motivated towards personal discovery and accountability and they will discover ways to promote understanding across barriers of age, culture and geographic borders,” said a spokesperson.
“In short, the visitor experience is about ‘Muhammad and Me’.”
The centre will officially open to the public on 21 November.
The advisory council of the Muhammad Ali Center includes U2’s Bono; actors Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and Angelina Jolie; broadcaster Larry King and producer Sean (P Diddy) Combs. Details: www.alicenter.org
