Jesse Owens Award goes posthumously to Ali

Colorado - The first Jesse Owens Olympic Spirit Award will recognise the late Muhammad Ali.

The Owens Award was started this year, the 80th anniversary of Owens' four-gold-medal performance at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, and is to be presented annually to recognise Olympians who have served as an inspiration in society.

Owens' granddaughter, Marlene Dortch, will present the award at next week's Best of the Games awards ceremony to Ali's widow, Lonnie.

Ali won the gold medal at the Rome 1960 Olympics, then took three world heavyweight championships - in 1964, 1974 and 1978.