Jordan among 21 to get Obama's final medals

Washington

PRESIDENT Barack Obama handed out his final set of Presidential Medals of Freedom on Tuesday, honouring 21 individuals, including Michael Jordan, Vin Scully and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. "Today, we celebrate extraordinary Americans who have lifted our spirits, strengthened our union, pushed us towards progress," Mr Obama said at the White House ceremony.

Amid the pomp and circumstance that went along with honouring individuals who have made great achievements in public life, Mr Obama peppered the ceremony with jokes, including once referring to Jordan as "the guy from Space Jam" and regaling the audience with a tale from Jordan's childhood.