Throughout the evening, we want you to recreate your sporting moment of the year in any way you can. Like Annie Thomas has done below.

We'll publish the best ones - all you have to do us Tweet us, using #myspotymoment, external

Get snapping!

Rory McIlroy on the BBC Red Button: "No major pressure on me tonight, I'm not up for the award but I'm still here to have a good time. I've been excited about this for a while, everyone is so excited to have it in this city."

Rory McIlroy arrives with fellow Northern Irishman Niall Horan...

I'm not sure who the biggest star is? Actually scrub that, I'm a huge One Directioner... It has to be Niall.

Horan reckons he is two up in rounds against McIlory in golf. I don't believe that...

How does it compare with the events you are used to Niall? "It's fine..."

World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is having his picture taken with his wife Paris. Moments later, a burly fella tries to nip in for a picture. Fury adopts the clenched fist pose which all boxers seem to go to when they are put in front of a camera.

AP McCoy, who will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award tonight, on the BBC Red Button: "So many other people had a hand in my success - the owners, the trainers, the horses that I was lucky enough to ride - I couldn't have picked a better sport. It's very special, I look at the names on the award, and I'm very proud to have my name beside these global superstars."

Remember, once again this year you can vote online in addition to the telephone. 

To cast your vote online you will need to be signed in to the BBC website. Signing in or registering a new BBC iD is simple. Register here or click here to get ready to vote.

Swimmer Adam Peaty - another contender for the main award - is the next to have a microphone put in front of him...

"It's nice to hang up the speedos and enjoy the evening with my girlfriend.

"I am focusing on the Olympics now. Gold is is everyone's sights."

Peaty was just asked 'who are you wearing'? I'm told they were asking about his shoes.

They keep on coming...

Former winner Barry McGuigan tells us: "It is a huge event, probably the biggest event in the sporting calendar in terms of awards."

Super-bantamweight Carl Frampton, with McGuigan, then chips in: "I don't really like these events."

Oh, cheers then Carl...

Now we've got Barry McGuigan and Carl Frampton in front of the microphones. I, for one, can't wait to see Frampton fight Scott Quigg next year.

The great and good of Northern Ireland are on the red carpet at the moment. We've heard from the mayor, we're currently speaking to racing's AP McCoy and JP McManus while Pat Jennings has rocked up still sporting the same hairstyle he had in the sixties. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport in Belfast

Just been speaking to Kevin Sinfield on the red carpet.

"It feels a bit alien being up for an individual award. I'm just here to represent the team."   

We've been up in the loft, cleared out the garage and emptied the cupboards to find these photos of our contenders as youngsters (We went on the internet really).

But who's who? We'll give you the answers a little later on.

Lizzy Yarnoldwon the World title this year to complete the career grand slam – Olympic, European, World Cup and now World Champion. She’s now taking a break from the sport but is set to defend her Olympic title in PyeongChang in 2018.

British snowboarder Billy Morgan became the first person in the world to land a 1800 quadruple cork. He did it during training in Livigno, Italy in April

Internationally, Lindsey Vonn became the most successful female skier of all time when she broke Austrian Annemarie Moser-Proell's record of 62 wins. She now has 71 World Cup wins.

James Nesbitt is the first non-sporty celebrity we hear from.

Although having said that, the actor - of Cold Feet fame - is hosting the Ballon d'or awards early next year.

I was a tad bit confused by that as well...

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill on the BBC Red Button: "When you come from such a low point, it was always going to take a bit of time. We'll look forward to the tournament, including playing the Germans in Paris."

Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans adds: "I hope he gets [the Coach of the Year award]. He's been fantastic since he came in. It's been a process that's taken three or four years, he's given us this belief."

Great British Davis Cup winner Andy Murray - another SPOTY contender - wanders down the red carpet and, unsurprisingly is immediately jumped on.

As he chats, he is joined by the rest of the Davis Cup team, they chat away to themselves.

He said: "It is great to be around the team, we have a great relationship.

"The rest of the year we rely on ourselves, the Davis Cup we rely on the team."

Libby Dawes
BBC Sport Online

"The women's hockey team make their way to the party via the same escalator I'm on."

2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell, speaking with a mix of an American and Irish accent. 

"Unbelievably excited to be here. We would not have missed it for the world, surrounded by sporting heroes."

Don't forget you can watch all this on the red button and online now.