Belfast unveils renamed airport as Best tribute
On the day that would have been the soccer genius’s 60th birthday, Belfast City Airport became the George Best Belfast City Airport.
Family, friends and fans were among more than 200 people who gathered for the ceremony outside the airport.
Best’s instantly recognisable signature has been added to the front of the airport’s name in a tribute which his sister, Barbara McNarra said “means everything to us”.
Ms McNarra, speaking on behalf of the Best family, said: “This is a very special day for us. We are delighted that the airport, situated close to the family home in East Belfast, will now act as a permanent memorial to honour George.”
She paid special thanks to the airport’s Spanish owners for giving the green light to the name change.
She said the momentous occasion was “a wonderful accolade to the best footballer the world has ever seen”.
Airport chief executive Brian Ambrose said the renaming would provide a lasting memory of Northern Ireland’s most famous footballer.
“Our decision to rename in honour of George Best has resulted in an unprecedented level of interest, with messages of support from across the world,” said Mr Ambrose.
He said when the airport first announced their intentions to honour the footballer every political party in Northern Ireland backed them — a sign of the universal love of a footballer who drew the province together.
Mr Ambrose revealed that the airport will, within the coming months, erect a permanent fixture inside the terminal to enable the public to make donations to the George Best Foundation.
The foundation is the charity established by the Best family with the aim of funding research into liver disease and promoting youth football.
Former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill, Northern Ireland goalkeeping legend Pat Jennings and ex-world champion boxer Chris Eubank paid tributes to Best and the ceremony.
Best’s father Dickie formally unveiled the airport’s new name.
