The BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year will be held on the Wednesday before Christmas to avoid a clash with the World Cup Final – and an England hero in Qatar COULD still scoop the top prize
- The 2022 BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be crowned on December 21
- The award, in its 69th year, has been slotted in three days after World Cup final
- Sportsmail understands that Gareth Southgate’s side can still win the award
- The Lionesses, after winning Euro 2022, will be among the leading contenders
England’s World Cup heroes remain in win a chance of winning the 2022 BBC Sports Personality of the Year gong despite the ceremony being held just three days after the World Cup final.
It remains unknown at this stage when the shortlist for the award will be revealed but Sportsmail understands that given the magnitude of the World Cup, players in Qatar, including those from Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions, will be in contention.
The ceremony to crown BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2022 will take place at Media City in Salford on Wednesday December 21, three days after the final of the World Cup in Qatar.
Last year the BBC elected to delay their final SPOTY shortlist until the Formula One season was decided.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen saw the title decided on the final lap of the final race in Abu Dhabi in one of the most thrilling F1 seasons in recent memory, with Verstappen edging out his British rival.
England’s stars at the World Cup will not be excluded from BBC Sports Personality of the Year
The SPOTY gong will be awarded at a ceremony held three days after the World Cup final
SPOTY takes into account the biggest sporting moments in a calendar year and England’s Lionesses will be frontrunners for the main prize after defeating Germany at Wembley to win Euro 2022.
But many eyes will be on the men’s team this winter as they look to win a first major trophy since lifting the World Cup in 1966.
Should England put their pre-tournament struggles behind them and go all the way to the final, many of Southgate’s squad
Gary Lineker, Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott will present the show, now in its 69th year.
Categories for 2022 will include; BBC Sports Personality of the Year, World Sport Star of the Year, Helen Rollason award, Young Sports Personality of the Year, Unsung Hero, Coach of the Year, Team of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement award.
There was also a record number of medals for Home Nations at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
England’s Lionesses, including striker Beth Mead, will be considered for the main SPOTY gong
Last year the shortlist was delayed as Max Verstappen (pictured) and Lewis Hamilton battled for the Formula One title until the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi
Elsewhere, the women’s curling team won gold at the Winter Olympics, snooker icon Ronnie O’Sullivan claimed his seventh World Snooker Championship, Manchester City edged a thrilling Premier League title chase, with Liverpool won both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup as part of their unprecedented quadruple bid.
The Rugby League World Cup, Women’s Rugby World Cup and the end of the F1 season also promise to deliver major sporting moments between now and the ceremony on Salford Quays.
‘The BBC is the home of major sporting events and has brought key moments from a huge year to audiences across the UK,’ Director of Sport, Barbara Slater, said.
‘We will be truly spoiled for choice for contenders and can’t wait to celebrate the year’s achievements in December.’
The shortlisted finalists for the 2022 award will be detailed at a later date.
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