LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) - The Muhammad Ali Center of course bears the name of one of the most iconic athletes in history. 

So naturally, the museum's collections manager and archivist in Amelia McGrath thought the focus for a new temporary photography exhibit was more than fitting.

"Louisville is such a sports city," McGrath said. "Our building is named after a very, very famous athlete. So, it was about time we did something with sports."

The exhibit is Women in Sports. It is a part of an annual series called Shining a Light, which focuses on a different gender disparity topic each year. The sports angle zeroed in on "the social and economic benefits of equal access to sports for women and girls around the world."

McGrath helped curate hundreds of photo submissions from 54 different countries for an international photography contest as part of the series. The selected images show women participating in a variety of sports at all levels.

"We just really want to elevate the importance of women in sports and the representation that comes with women in sports as well," McGrath said. "There's a spot for everybody in sports and you don't have to watch it to appreciate what it means to a lot of people. We wouldn't even be in this building if it weren't for sports, right? We might not have known Muhammad Ali. So, it's important to give people the platform to pursue their dreams, to see these photographs and think, 'I can do that.'"

Louisville itself is a perfect home for such an exhibit. The city is home to Kentucky's lone top-tier pro sports franchise in Racing Louisville FC of the National Women's Soccer League. The University of Louisville, along with many other local colleges, boasts prominent women's athletics programs. And the local preps/high school scene feature some of the best institutions and talents in the nation.

There are multiple photos depicting some of the aforementioned local subjects and more. McGrath wants visitors to see those, as well as all of the others from around the world, and leave with a feeling that fits the home of The Greatest.

"They should get a sense of leaving with feeling greatness after admiring greatness throughout this entire building, and leave this place feeling like they can spread that greatness around and continue to be great in their own lives," McGrath said. "We see these amazing women and girls represented in these photographs. We see Muhammad throughout the Center. There's all of the reasons to leave this place and feel uplifted, feel like you can take on your day or some hard task that you're facing in your life."

The exhibit will open to the public on March 8, which is International Women's Day. That night, the Ali Center will host a members-only reception from 5:30-7:30 p.m. University of Louisville Sports Administration Program’s Dr. Mary Hums, Racing Louisville Forward Uchenna Kanu, as well as Spalding President, and the first woman to solo row the Atlantic Ocean, Tori Murden-McClure will be members of a panel discussion focusing on women's sports in Louisville and around the world.

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