Dame Mary Peters gets freedom of Belfast honour

The honour was conferred on Dame Mary at Belfast City Hall

The Freedom of Belfast has been conferred on Olympic gold medallist Dame Mary Peters.

Dame Mary competed in three Olympic Games and five Commonwealth games, her first when she was 18. She won gold in the women's pentathlon in 1972.

The freedom ceremony took place on Wednesday at Belfast City Hall.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dame Mary said she had one final dream - a sports museum for Northern Ireland.

Earlier 300 children, participated in pentathlon-style sports on the front lawns of city hall.

A motion to grant the freedom of the city to Dame Mary was passed by Belfast city council in November of last year.

SDLP councillor Pat McCarthy proposed the motion in recognition of the 73-year-old's contribution to the life of the city.

"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," the motion stated.

"Accordingly, in the recognition of this service, the council agrees that Dame Mary Peters is hereby elected and admitted as a Freeman of the City of Belfast."

Previous recipients of the honour include the poet John Hewitt, the merchant navy and Winston Churchill.