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Ali Louisvillle funeral details confirmed

Tuesday, June 07 2016 by SNTV
  • The President of Turkey and King of Jordan joined the long line of world leaders, religious figures and superstars set to speak at Muhammad Ali's funeral on Friday

    Ali family spokesman Bob Gunnell announced funeral details at a news conference on Monday.

    California imam and scholar Zaid Shakir will preside over the service at the KFC Yum! Centre in Louisville.

    Speaking at the funeral will be representatives of multiple faiths, including Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Mormonism and Catholicism.

    They will be followed by Ali's wife, Lonnie Ali; daughter Maryum Ali; actor Billy Crystal; journalist and sportscaster Bryant Gumbel; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King Abdullah II of Jordan.

    President Bill Clinton will deliver a eulogy.

    The Dalai Lama was invited, but sent regrets that he will be unable to attend.

    SOUNDBITE (English): Bob Gunnell, Ali family spokesperson

    "Muhammad Ali's funeral, memorial, will take place in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky on Friday, June 10th at 2:00 pm at the KFC Yum! Centre. The service will be open to the public and those who cannot attend can view a livestream at alicenter.org."

    SOUNDBITE (English): Bob Gunnell, Ali family spokesperson

    "We will begin the service with Koranic chants. The service will be presided over by Imam Shakir. There will be recitation from the Koran and and then the imam will serve and introduce all speakers."

    SOUNDBITE (English): Bob Gunnell, Ali family spokesperson

    "We will begin the service with poetry readings from Ambassador Attallah Shabazz and then we will begin our eulogies and this is something different that just occurred within the last day. The tone will be set with the first eulogist by Lonnie Ali, then Muhammad's daughter Maryum Ali will speak. Natasha Mundkur, a Muhammad Ali Center scholar will be next, followed by long-time family friend and Louisvillian John Ramsey, then Billy Crystal, Bryant Gumbel and the Honourable William J. Clinton."

    SOUNDBITE (English): Bob Gunnell, Ali family spokesperson

    "Everything that we're doing here was blessed by Muhammad Ali and was requested. So, you know, he wanted the memorial service to reflect his life and how he lived and the fact that you know he wanted everybody to be able to attend. He wanted, he was the people's champ so he wanted that memorial service to reflect that."

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