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Jessica Gadirova wins Young Spoty
Former Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds announces the first winner of the night and it’s… Gadirova! “Thanks to my support team, my coaches, British Gymnastics and my friends and family,” she says. “This is for you, I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you and you mean the world to me.”
Young Sports Personality of the Year winner Jessica Gadirova poses for a photo earlier in the evening. Photo: David Davies/PA
Updated at 19.26 GMT
Gadirova is next. “I gave it my all, blocked it all out, focused on myself and tried to give the best performance there was for Great Britain, one that everyone would remember,” he told Logan, when asked about the its gold
Jessica Gadirova shows off her gold medal at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA
There is a tribute to Eddie Butler, the legendary former Wales rugby international whose melodic baritone became inherently associated with the Six Nations in particular. He died in September, aged 65.
It’s time for a montage of the beautiful game. The proof is in the pudding, and the pudding, in this case… is a football.
O’Sullivan is next. He speaks to Lineker via video link from Dubai, where he is on holiday. “I love the game, I love competing and if you love what you do, you can’t wait to get out of bed in the morning and do it,” he says. There is a pause. “By the way, how’s it going Gary, okay?”
Ronnie O’Sullivan basks in the glory of his seventh world title. Photo: Zac Goodwin/PA
Muirhead is the first to speak to the presenters, after a montage with family members talking about her lifelong dedication to curling. “On the back of qualifying for Beijing, we did it the hard way, but I think as individuals and as a team we learned a ton there … before we knew it, we were on top of this podium with our medals”.
Eve Muirhead (right) celebrates with Vicky Wright after winning gold in Beijing. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Updated at 19.03 GMT
Along with the main award, the Young Sports Personality of the Year, Team and Coach of the Year, Unsung Hero and Helen Rollason Awards will also be presented this evening. The Young Spoty contenders are Gadirova, again, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, the diver, and Sky Brown, the skater.
Spoty is officially on the way. Sit back, relax and enjoy the montages.
England manager Sarina Wiegman (left) catches up with her former charge Ellen White as they wait for the show to start. Photo: David Davies/PA
Updated at 19.07 GMT
We have our first correspondence, from Adrian Fowell via email. “64% of a YouGov poll don’t know [who should win]. Doesn’t that say it all? Round the shoulders.” Put Adrian as ab).
Stokes to miss the ceremony with stomach bugs
Clare Stokes, Ben Stokes’ wife, posted a photo of him on Instagram wrapped in a blanket and looking a little under the weather. “All set for #spoty here! Except @stokesy has come home with a stomach infection,” the caption reads.
Good luck, Ben. Photo: Nick Potts/PA
Updated at 18.40 GMT
Any followers of the democratic process reading this blog? Well, you’re in luck, because you can vote for the winner during tonight’s show, either online or by phone. Here’s how Spoty works, in case anyone needed a reminder. They will announce the details when the show starts at 18.45 (GMT).
In case you’re interested, tonight’s presenters are Gary Lineker, Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott. This is the 69th edition of Spoty, which began in 1954.
Lineker, Logan, Balding and Scott pose for the cameras as they arrive at the event. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images
Updated at 18.47 GMT
A word for O’Sullivan, the oldest candidate at 47. He won his seventh World Snooker Championship in May, beating Judd Trump 18-13 to equal Stephen Hendry’s modern-era record. His first world title came back in 2001, 21 years before his last triumph. It was his 39th title, a record, and took him to 74 Crucible wins, also a record.
To her credit, while Mead scored the joint-highest number of goals at Euro 2022 alongside Popp, she finished as the tournament’s top scorer thanks to her five assists. She has also been on fire for Arsenal in the Women’s Super League this year, although her season has been cut short due to a serious knee injury.
Beth Mead poses with the Euro 2022 trophy after the final, which England won 2-1 against Germany. Photograph: Lynne Cameron/The FA/Getty Images
Who answered b) then? Here’s a YouGov poll that should add some fuel to the fire. Leaving aside the 64% of people who don’t know who should win Spoty, Mead has a slight edge over Stokes with the British public. Wightman is the leftmost option.
Who should win BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2022? Britons think Lionesses forward Beth Mead will return home
Beth Mead: 12%Ben Stokes: 10%Ronnie O’Sullivan: 6%Eve Muirhead: 4%Jessica Gadirova: 2%Jake Wightman: 1%Don’t know: 64% pic.twitter.com/L8BadUyNUH
— YouGov (@YouGov) December 21, 2022
preamble
It’s that time of year again, isn’t it? Where we all argue about the Sports Personality of the Year Award and whether it is a) a national institution b) totally useless or c) somewhere in between. “Umm, err, have you heard of nuances? It’s obviously c),” is what a smarty-pants might say. This blog is for those who think it’s a) or) a binary choice with no room for any kind of nuance. Because what is sport, if not to have a massive argument just for the sake of it?
Among this year’s Spoty contenders, Beth Mead is the overwhelming favorite. Having won Euro 2022 with England, scoring a tournament-high six goals alongside Germany’s Alexandra Popp, few would deny her the award. Ben Stokes is also in the mix, having revitalized England’s cricket team alongside Test coach Brendon McCullum while also helping the white-ball side win the World Cup T20 under the direction of Matthew Mott.
Jessica Gadirova, the gymnast who won floor gold at the World Championships, Eve Muirhead, who led Team GB to curling gold at the Winter Olympics, Jake Wightman, who won the 1500m d gold at the world athletics championships, and snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan completes the list. But who will win? Let’s find out.
Updated at 18.01 GMT