When are the Sports Personality of the Year awards, who is favourite to win and how can I get tickets?


THIS year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year award is set to be one of the most hotly contested after Team GB’s record-breaking success at the Rio Olympics.

The annual show – nicknamed SPOTY – is still going strong after 62 years.

 2015 Sports Personality of the Year
Sports Personality of the Year 2015 winner Andy Murray with runner-up Kevin Sinfield and 3rd place Jessica Ennis-Hill
PA:Press Association

And fans will have a tough time deciding the winner after a host of stars won glory in a great summer for British sport.

Here we take a look at the favourites to lift the trophy – and how you can be there when the winner is announced.

When is SPOTY this year?

The star-studded ceremony will take place on Sunday December 18 at The Genting Arena in Birmingham.

As usual it will be broadcast live on BBC1 in a glitzy show presented by Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan.

How can I get SPOTY tickets?

Tickets are on sale now and will cost £45 with a maximum of six per person.

They can be bought online from The Ticket Factory or by calling the box office on 0844 33 88 222.

When are the nominees announced?

A 12-person shortlist for the Sport Personality of the Year will be revealed around the end of November.

The public will then get the chance to vote for the winner.

Who are the bookies’ favourites?

Two-time SPOTY winner Andy Murray had been the strong favourite to pick up a third title since his Wimbledon victory.

But punters have recently been backing Alistair Brownlee after his heroics at the World Triathlon Championships, says Tim Reynolds from Sun Bets.

Wimbledon Winner Andy Murray
Andy Murray won his second Wimbledon in July and his second Olympic gold in August
Getty Images

Andy Murray 9/4

Britain's tennis number one won SPOTY last year after guiding GB to its first Davis Cup title for 79 years. In 2016 he won his second Wimbledon championship and capped off an incredible year by retaining his Olympic title in Rio.

Alistair Brownlee, left, helps his brother Jonny to get to the finish line during the Triathlon World Series event in Cozumel, Mexico
Double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee sacrificed his chances in the World Series event when he stopped to help his brother Jonny get to the finish line in Mexico
AP:Associated Press

Alistair Brownlee 9/4

The Yorkshire triathlete stormed to his second successive Olympic gold. But it was helping his brother Jonny when he collapsed at the end of the World Series final in Mexico that sealed his place in the nation's hearts.

Mo Farah
Fans said Mo Farah should be knighted after he completed the 'double double' in Rio
PA:Press Association

Mo Farah 9/2

Mo did the "double double" at Rio by retaining both the 10,000m and 5,000m Olympic titles he won in London four years ago.

Anthony Joshua
IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua defending his title in June
Getty Images

Anthony Joshua 5/1

Britain's heavyweight hero beat Charles Martin in just four minutes to win the IBF belt and held it by knocking out Dominic Breazeale.

Laura Trott and Jason Kenny
Laura Trott is one half of the most successful couple in Olympics history
AP:Associated Press

Laura Trott 10/1

Britain's most successful female Olympian claimed her third and fourth track cycling golds in Rio - then got hitched to six-times gold medallist Jason Kenny.

Gareth Bale celebrates with teammates after the final whistle during the UEFA Euro 2016, quarter final
Gareth Bale won the Champions League with Real Madrid but seemed more delighted when Wales beat Belgium in the quarter-final of the Euros
PA:Press Association

Gareth Bale 16/1

The £85m Real Madrid ace showed how much he loves playing for his country as he helped Wales storm in the semi-finals of the Euro 2016 tournament in France.

Also in the running, according to Sun Bets, are: showjumper Nick Skelton 25/1, gymnast Max Whitlock 33/1, cyclist Jason Kenny 40/1, retiring heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill 50/1, F1 driver Lewis Hamilton 66/1, swimmer Adam Peaty 80/1, Tour de France winner Chris Froome 100/1, and Olympic golf champion Justin Rose 100/1.

What other categories are there?

Apart from the main award there are seven other honours awarded on the night.

Team of the Year. In 2015 the GB Davis Cup team won - this year the Welsh football team or surprise Premier League champions Leicester City must be in with a good chance.

Overseas Sports Personality of the Year. Last year Dan Carter won for guiding New Zealand to Rugby World Cup glory.

Coach of the Year. In 2015 it was Michael O'Neill for masterminding Northern Ireland's qualification for Euro 2016. Who would bet against Welsh counterpart Chris Coleman?

Young Sports Personality of the Year. Ellie Downie was honoured last year for winning bronze in the gymnastics individual all-around at the European Championships.

Lifetime Achievement Award. Last year it was given to AP McCoy, who retired at the age of 41 with 20 champion jockey titles under his belt.

Helen Rollason Award. In 2015 it was Bailey Matthews, an eight-year-old with cerebral palsy who completed his first triathlon unaided.

Sport's Unsung Hero. Last year Damien Lindsay, a youth football coach in west Belfast, was nominated by his local community for his work with St James Swifts Football Club.


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