NEW YORK: The US city of Louisville in Kentucky has decided to rename its airport after hometown hero and boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who died in 2016, according to social media.

The announcement comes just a day before Ali would have turned 77.

The new name of the airport will be Louisville Muh­ammad Ali International Airport, officials announced on Wednesday.

In a statement posted on Facebook the airport said its board “voted meaningfully” to recognise his legacy as a Louisville native by renaming the airport in his honour.

The airport’s three-letter location identifier, SDF, will not change.

Louisville mayor Greg Fischer tweeted: “Muha­mmad Ali belonged to the world, but he only had one hometown. Today’s decision to change @flylouisville’s name to Louisville Muh­ammad Ali International Airport is a major piece of a broader effort to celebrate those deep ties.”

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2019