26/10/2012

Freedom Of Belfast For Mary Peters

Dame Mary Peters looks set to be given the Freedom of Belfast.

The motion calling for the honour is to be brought before the city council next week.

The proposal came from SDLP councillor Pat McCarthy.

He said: "This is the highest honour that Belfast can bestow on any person.

"It is not being given because Mary just won a gold medal 40 years ago. For me it is because she has tirelessly undertaken work to promote sport among young people and has raised substantial funds to help young people compete."

He added that many of the people who Dame Mary helped to support over the years had gone on to represent both Britain and Ireland.

"For Mary it is not about politics it is about sport," he said. "This is something that is long, long overdue."

Dame Mary, now aged 73, competed in three Olympic Games and five Commonwealth Games starting when she was 18 years old.

She took gold in the pentathlon competition at the 1972 Munich games.

A statue at the Mary Peters Track in South Belfast is expected to be erected in her honour. It is reported the statue will go up following the completion of renovation works in preparation for the World Police and Fire Games next year.

The motion, expected to go before the Assembly next week, reads: "This council recognises the tremendous contribution made to the life of the city by Dame Mary Peters.

"Over the past 40 years she has served as an ambassador for Belfast across the world and has been tireless in her efforts to promote sport and the benefits it brings to young people. Accordingly, in recognition of this service the council agrees that Dame Mary Peters is hereby elected and admitted as a Freeman of the City of Belfast."

(IT)

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