Known worldwide as ¡°the Greatest¡±, three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer Muhammad Ali (USA) was designated Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Messenger of Peace in 1998. Spending most of his time outside the boxing ring devoted to the pursuit of peace, Mr. Ali first came to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ in 1978 to address the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Special Committee against Apartheid with a message of peace and spirituality.
He brought people from all races together by preaching ¡°healing¡± to everyone irrespective of race, religion or age. Over the years Mr. Ali was a relentless advocate for people in need and a significant humanitarian actor in the developing world, supporting relief and development initiatives and hand-delivering food and medical supplies to hospitals, street children and orphanages in Africa and Asia.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid tribute to Mr. Ali upon his passing on 3 June 2016, saying the United Nations was grateful ¡°to have benefitted from the life and work of one of the past century¡¯s great humanitarians and advocates for understanding and peace.¡±
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