BBC Sports Personality of the Year

Great British sporting heroes will be gathering in Liverpool this season, for the prestigous BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.

With its own excellent track record, our city is used to celebrating sporting success.

There's such a wealth of sporting talent in the international spotlight this year - with a massive haul of 19 Olympic gold medals - it's going to be a tough contest!

Team GB shone in Bejing - our best performance of the century - and double gold medal - winning swimmer Rebecca Adlington and cyclist Chris Hoy, a triple champion in China, are likely to be among the leading contenders for this year's title.

Records were smashed by the British team at the Paralympics, with gold medal performances in cycling, archery, swimming, equestrian events, track and more.

There's also the Isle of Man's Mark Cavendish's record-breaking performance in the Tour de France, Padraig Harrington winning the Open at Royal Birkdale and the USPGA, Andy Murray reaching the US Open Tennis final and Lewis Hamilton's continuing success in the world of Formula One. Last year Hamilton came second to Welsh boxer Joe Calzaghe, while fellow fighter Ricky Hatton took third place.

BBC Sports Personality of the Year event will be held at The Echo Arena Liverpool on Sunday December 14 but if you haven't got tickets, you can catch the action live on BBC One.

Dates

opening 2008 14 Dec 2008