December 17th 2024.
The highly anticipated BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024 ceremony will take place tonight, and one athlete has already emerged as the frontrunner for the prestigious award. After a year filled with thrilling and memorable sporting events such as the European Championships and Summer Olympics, a panel of experts has carefully selected a shortlist of six exceptional individuals, all vying to follow in the footsteps of last year's winner, Mary Earps.
As the night unfolds, there is potential for multiple records to be broken, with the possibility of the youngest winner in more than 60 years, as well as the oldest winner in the history of the competition. So, what time can we expect the event to kick off? The show will begin at 7pm in Salford, and viewers can tune in live on BBC One, or stream it on BBC iPlayer or the BBC Sport website.
This year, the show will be hosted by an all-female trio of Clare Balding, Gabby Logan, and Alex Scott, following Gary Lineker's departure after 23 years of hosting duties. Now, let's take a look at the nominees for the coveted Sports Personality of the Year award.
Leading the pack is 22-year-old Keely Hodgkinson, who made headlines with her incredible performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she claimed the gold medal in the 800m race. Her victory came as no surprise, as she had already proven herself earlier in the year by winning gold at the European Championships and setting a new British record. Another standout nominee is Luke Littler, who, at just 16 years old, could become the youngest winner since 1958. The promising darts player has already made a name for himself by reaching the World Championship final and earning over £1million in prize money in his first year.
Other notable nominees include Jude Bellingham, who made a name for himself at Real Madrid, and England cricketer Joe Root, who made history by becoming England's highest Test run-scorer of all time. The Paris Olympics also saw two more nominees, with Alex Yee winning gold in the men's triathlon and Sarah Storey winning two Paralympic cycling golds. Storey, who could potentially become the oldest winner in the history of the competition, is an inspiring figure who continues to break barriers and defy expectations.
With such a talented pool of nominees, it's no wonder that the bookies have already placed their bets. At the moment, Keely Hodgkinson is the clear favorite with odds of 1/4, followed by Luke Littler at 11/4. However, anything can happen on the night, and it's sure to be a thrilling and unpredictable event.
Aside from the main award, the show will also present seven other prizes, including the World Sport Star of the Year, the Helen Rollason Award, and the Young Sports Personality of the Year. Viewers will have the opportunity to cast their vote during the show, either online, by telephone, or by scanning a QR code. It's important to note that only one vote per person is allowed, and voters must be located in the UK and have a BBC account.
But that's not all. On Monday, cycling legend Mark Cavendish was announced as the winner of the Lifetime Achievement award, adding even more excitement to the already highly anticipated event. With so much talent and so many incredible achievements to celebrate, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024 is sure to be a night to remember.
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