1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:54 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    #SPOTY, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Richard: Team of the Year - Wigan Warriors. SPOTY Luke Littler.

    Clark: I am voting Luke Littler 100%. He is absolutely what SPOTY is all about. He gained a much wider audience to the sport.

  2. Loughborough win Super League as netball gears up for revamped divisionpublished at 18:52 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Jess Anderson
    BBC Sport netball reporter

    Loughborough Lightning win Super LeagueImage source, Getty Images

    Loughborough Lightning were once again crowned winners of the Netball Super League after beating four–time champions Manchester Thunder 70–54 in June.

    It meant they became the last team to win the title in its current guise with the NSL relaunching in 2025 as it moves towards full professionalisation.

    The announcement that Team Bath, Strathclyde Sirens, Surrey Storm and Severn Stars would be left out of the revamped league caused uncertainty for the players with Birmingham Panthers and Nottingham Forest Netball the new additions to the eight-team division, which hopes to attract larger audiences both inside arenas and at home.

    On the international stage, England lost both the Nations Cup and a three-match series to Australia, secured a remarkable series win over New Zealand and lost to Jamaica in the new four-match Horizon series.

    The announcement that netball would be included in the scaled-back 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow was a welcome one in a sport which sees the multi-sport event as its pinnacle.

  3. ‘Dare to do big things’published at 18:50 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Harry Poole
    BBC Sport

    There’s nothing quite like the SPOTY red carpet.

    It’s been a whirlwind couple of hours of sporting star after sporting star and everyone is in great spirits as we edge closer to the live awards show.

    Four of our six contenders for the main award are here tonight, with Keely Hodgkinson joining Luke Littler, Alex Yee and Sarah Storey.

    Silver, silver, silver and now, at last, global gold.

    Hodgkinson says she has always “dared to do big things” ever since a young age.

    Winning the Olympic title was “amazing” after her series of near-misses - with world silver in Budapest the moment she promised herself it would only be gold in Paris.

    She’s joined tonight by her family, friends, coaches and team-mates.

    Keely Hodgkinson
  4. Brookes continues to break new ground as Fear and Gibson win Grand Prix bronzepublished at 18:48 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Anna Thompson
    BBC Sport winter sports reporter

    Lilah Fear and Lewis GibsonImage source, Getty Images

    Teenager Mia Brookes continued to break new ground in 2024 by winning her first X Games gold medal in snowboard slopestyle in Aspen, Colorado. And she backed that up with a first World Cup gold medal in big air in Beijing. Meanwhile Zoe Atkin claimed a silver medal in ski halfpipe at the X Games.

    Matt Weston became Great Britain’s first men’s skeleton world champion in 16 years, securing the title in St Moritz. And so far this winter season the British team have won 13 World Cup medals in five men’s and women’s races and a team event, to match their most successful season with three rounds of racing remaining.

    In bobsleigh, Corie Mapp secured a second para bobsleigh overall World Cup title and was also crowned European champion.

    And ice dance duo, Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson, who are aiming to becoming Great Britain’s first figure skating Olympic medallists since Torvill and Dean, claimed the country’s first-ever medal at the ISU Grand Prix Final with a bronze in Grenoble, France.

  5. Postpublished at 18:46 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    There's not long now until the show gets started on BBC One.

    To help you decide who to vote for, we've enlisted the help of the Strictly judges.

    Voting will open later in the show!

  6. 2023 SPOTY winner Earps arrivespublished at 18:44 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Mary Earps poses on the red carpetImage source, PA Media
  7. ‘It’s not supposed to be this easy’published at 18:42 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Harry Poole
    BBC Sport

    Keely Hodgkinson’s coaches Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows have just stopped by for a chat after an amazing year for their Manchester-based M11 Track Club.

    Hodgkinson, of course, won gold but there was also a stunning bronze for Georgia Bell in the 1500m just three years after she returned to the sport, while Lewis Davey medalled as part of the men’s 4x400m relay team.

    They spoke about their pride after watching their athletes on the sport’s biggest stage and Painter said walking around the Stade de France at the end of the Games “felt like a sports day” given the haul of medals.

    “It’s not supposed to be this easy,” he joked. “Everything went in our favour.”

    Far too modest. They’ve just returned from warm weather training in South Africa having already begun preparations for 2025. No rest - and Meadows says she’s already very excited for what’s to come.

    Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows with their athletes
  8. United States dominate majors and win Solheim Cuppublished at 18:40 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Peter Scrivener
    BBC Sport golf reporter

    Scottie Schefller MastersImage source, Getty Images

    For the first time in 42 years all four of the men’s majors were swept by Americans. Xander Schauffele finally broke through with victories at The Open and US PGA Championship, while undoubted player of the year Scottie Scheffler picked up his second Masters and an Olympic gold medal among an extraordinary nine titles.

    Bryson DeChambeau claimed his second US Open, although Rory McIlroy was left to rue a collapse in the final four holes as a fifth major slipped away.

    Nelly Korda was the dominant player in the women’s game in the early part of the year with five successive wins, including her second major at the Chevron Championship. And the AIG Women’s Open saw New Zealand’s Lydia Ko end an eight-year wait for a third major as she triumphed at the Old Course, St Andrews after also clinching the Olympic title.

    And the Solheim Cup finally returned to US shores for the first time since 2017 after they held off a spirited European fightback on the final day in Virigina.

  9. Presenters Logan, Balding and Scott arrivepublished at 18:38 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    And with the SPOTY trophy of course!

    Gabby Logan, Clare Balding and Alex Scott arriving for the 2024 BBC Sports Personality of the Year AwardsImage source, PA Media
  10. Postpublished at 18:37 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    And here is Imogen Grant's dress on the red carpet!

    Imogen GrantImage source, PA Media
    Imogen GrantImage source, PA Media
  11. Olympic rowing champion Grant wearing special recycled dresspublished at 18:36 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Media caption,

    Olympic rowing champion Imogen Grant recycles kit into Sports Personality dress

    We'll be keeping an eye out on the red carpet for Olympic rowing champion Imogen Grant this evening as she is wearing a special dress.

    It is the result of a unique project which enabled Grant to combine her passions for sustainability with high fashion.

    The 28-year old, who was named BBC Green Sports Awards Athlete of the Year, donated her old sports kits to the London College of Fashion so they could be upcycled into a dress she will wear at the awards.

    "I think it's an amazing project, and I really hope it sends a message," said Grant, who won gold in Paris alongside Emily Craig in the women's lightweight double sculls.

    "As athletes we get given lots of kit and so much of it gets wasted. As soon as a sponsor changes, a whole new set comes in.

    "I hope this shows there's another life it can have. The way we make kit at the moment is just not sustainable."

    Read more about Grant's dress here.

  12. Wilson finally triumphs at World Championshipspublished at 18:34 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Steve Sutcliffe
    BBC Sport snooker reporter

    Kyren wilsonImage source, Getty Images

    Kyren Wilson’s triumph at the World Championship in May felt like a moment that had been long in the making.

    The Englishman went into tournament under the radar after an underwhelming campaign during which he had dealt with challenging family issues away from the table.

    Yet he was a deserving winner after producing arguably the best snooker of his career in what is regarded as the sport’s ultimate test - with his emotional celebration one of the most heartwarming moments of the year.

    His subsequent form has also helped shape the narrative this term, with his growing rivalry with Judd Trump, one that could potentially define the sport over the next decade.

    While Wilson defeated his compatriot in finals at both the Xi'an Grand Prix and the Northern Ireland open, Trump remains streets ahead of Wilson and everybody else for that matter, in the world rankings.

    His success at the UK Championship earlier this month – after beating Wilson in the last four – saw his earnings head north of £1m this term and only underlined his status as the man to beat at the second Triple Crown event – the Masters – in January.

    However, in a season when Neil Robertson has returned to the winner’s circle, three Chinese players have won ranking events and Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Williams are all still going strong, predictions are a fool’s errand in this sport.

  13. Postpublished at 18:32 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Ever wondered what goes into making Sports Personality of the Year?

    Well, BBC Sport's Elizabeth Conway has got you covered as she takes a look behind the scenes before the 2024 edition of the awards show.

    Media caption,

    Take a look behind the scenes of Sports Personality of the Year

  14. ‘I’m just a 17-year-old boy’published at 18:30 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Harry Poole
    BBC Sport

    Luke Littler, like all the main contenders, is in high demand on the red carpet.

    I asked him what on earth the Luke of 12 months ago would have made of all of this, before he shot to stardom by reaching the PDC World Championship final in January. “He would have no idea what to expect.”

    On being nominated for both tonight’s main award and Young Sport Personality of the Year award, he said: “It’s been crazy. But I'm not one to go on about it. I’m just trying to be myself. 
I'm just a 17-year-old boy.”

    Luke Littler
  15. How well do you know SPOTY contenders?published at 18:28 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    There's still a bit of time to go until the show begins on BBC One at 19:00 GMT.

    So why not take our quiz!

    Jude Bellingham, Keely Hodgkinson, Luke Littler, Joe Root, Sarah Storey and Alex Yee are the 2024 contenders for BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

    But how much do you know about them?

    Test your knowledge here!

    Sports Personality contenders
  16. 'Mum was a trailblazer' - celebrating 25 years of the Helen Rollason Awardpublished at 18:26 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Helen Rollason

    One of Nikki Rollason's most endearing memories from her childhood is of her mum, in their lounge, surrounded by newspaper back pages.

    "It was just part of our life - her doing her research, really being curious and wanting to make sure the job she did was the absolute best," says Nikki.

    Helen Rollason was a trailblazer in sports broadcasting as the first woman to present the BBC's flagship Grandstand programme. She also presented coverage from the Olympics, Paralympics, Wimbledon and Commonwealth Games.

    Rollason continued to front sport bulletins on BBC News after being diagnosed with colon cancer, which later spread to her liver and lungs, in 1997.

    She died two years later at the age of 43, but her legacy lives on. At this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year show, the Helen Rollason Award - which recognises outstanding achievement in the face of adversity - celebrates its 25th year.

    We'll find out later on in the show who the recipient of this year's award is.

    Read more about Helen Rollason here.

  17. Fifteen finalists in contention for Unsung Heropublished at 18:24 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    The Unsung Hero award celebrates the best volunteers in sport, whose work is making a real difference in communities across the UK every day.

    For this award, 15 national and regional winners are in contention, with the overall winner to be announced during the show.

    Moon Mughis (Scotland), Liam Mackay (Wales), Rachel Reid (Northern Ireland), Samra Said (London), Jean Paton (South), Ian Bennett (South West), Adam Kenyon (South East), George Sullivan (East), Stewart Nubley (East Midlands), Asha Rage (West Midlands), Bob Purcell (West), Paul McIntyre (North West), Keith Grainge (Yorkshire), Kristen Ingraham-Morgan (East Yorks & Lincs) and Stephen Newton (North East & Cumbria).

    Congratulations to each and every one of them!

  18. Six on World Sport Star shortlistpublished at 18:22 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    World SPOTY - Simone Biles, Caitlin Clark, Catherine Debrunner, Armand Duplantis, Sifan Hassan, Leon Marchand

    The voting for World Sport Star of the Year has already taken place, and there's not too long to wait now until we reveal who you have chosen as your winner for 2024.

    The 2023 award was won by Manchester City footballer Erling Haaland, who helped his side to an historic Treble.

    This year's contenders are as follows:

    • Simone Biles (Gymnastics)
    • Caitlin Clark (Basketball)
    • Catherine Debrunner (Para-athletics)
    • Armand Duplantis (Athletics)
    • Sifan Hassan (Athletics)
    • Leon Marchand (Swimming)
  19. 'Grateful' Cavendish arrives on the red carpetpublished at 18:20 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Harry Poole
    BBC Sport

    Tonight, Mark Cavendish will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement award after breaking the Tour de France stage wins record as he took his 35th victory in July before ending his illustrious career.

    I’ve just caught up with the Manx Missile, who said having his name on that award alongside other sporting giants is “special”.

    On being able to come back and end his career on his own terms after crashing out of last year’s Tour de France, Cavendish said: “I'm very happy that, you know, I could finish my career with no kind of thought about what maybe I can do.

    “You are very fortunate as an athlete as to be able to say that, to finish with nothing left to check off.

    “I'm very grateful and very proud.”

    Sir Mark Cavendish and Peta Todd arriving for the 2024 BBC Sports Personality of the Year AwardsImage source, PA Media
  20. How misfit Cavendish changed the face of cyclingpublished at 18:18 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    While we're waiting for the show to get going, why not read a bit more about the recipient of the BBC Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement award.

    From BMX to track cycling to road cycling - find out more about how misfit Sir Mark Cavendish changed the face of cycling.

    And, the Isle of Man have even released a new set of stamps highlighting the most significant milestones of his career! He really has made it.

    Media caption,

    Mark Cavendish's legacy - Lifetime Achievement