BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024: Award Criteria, Voting Procedures, and Terms

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year event is scheduled to be held at MediaCity in Salford on Tuesday, 17 December 2024. The procedures for nominations, the criteria, and the voting specifics (as relevant) for each award category are detailed in the following sections. This particular award recognizes the sportsperson whose athletic accomplishments have most captivated the imagination of the UK public throughout 2024. An independent panel of experts (referred to subsequently as ‘the Panel’) assembled in November 2024 to determine the shortlist of sports personalities for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. The production team for BBC Sports Personality of the Year supplied the Panel with a comprehensive compilation of leading sportspeople from 2024, along with data regarding their achievements. The Panel retained the discretion to evaluate other prospective nominees. The Panel established a shortlist of sportspeople for the primary award based on these criteria: Demonstrated UK sporting accomplishments at either a national or international level; Exemplified the wide range and profound nature of UK sports; and Considered the ‘impact’ of the individual’s sporting success extending beyond their specific sport. Eligibility for nomination for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award was granted to sportspeople who were UK citizens or met all of the subsequent conditions: they participated substantially in their sport within the UK; and their principal accomplishments for the year occurred in the UK, and not as part of a non-UK based team (as such cases would typically qualify for the World Sport Star award); and they resided in the UK. Coaches or management personnel who were not actively playing were deemed ineligible. The Panel formulated a shortlist by aiming for a consensus. Should a unanimous agreement not be achieved for all or some nominees, the Panel was then instructed to vote for the outstanding candidates. If a vote resulted in a tie, the determination made by the chairperson (Director, BBC Sport) was final. The Panel possesses the authority to modify aspects of this or other awards, including criteria or the number of shortlisted individuals, provided a consensus is attained and such alterations align with the fundamental essence of the award. Alex Kay-Jelski, who is the Director of BBC Sport, presided over the panel, which comprised delegates from the sports community. The list of 2024 contenders will be revealed prior to the main broadcast. Subsequently, the public will cast votes for the award winner during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024 program on Tuesday, 17 December 2024 (further details provided below). Should any of the following scenarios occur during the public vote: If two contenders receive the highest number of votes, resulting in a tie, the award will be jointly presented to both. In this situation, no award will be given for second place, and the third-place award will be granted to the contender with the highest score following the two tied individuals. If three contenders receive the highest number of votes, resulting in a tie, the award will be shared among all three, and no awards will be presented for the second and third place categories. If two contenders receive the second highest number of votes, resulting in a tie, the second-place award will be shared between them, and no award will be given for the third place category. If two contenders receive the third highest number of votes, resulting in a tie, the third-place award will be shared between those two. The Panel will conduct a contingency vote for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in the improbable circumstance of issues arising with the public voting process. Voting for the primary award is scheduled to occur during the live broadcast on 17 December 2024. Options for voting include telephone, the BBC Sport app, or the BBC Sport website. The specific telephone number for each contender will be disclosed during the program. Voting is not permitted through email, Red Button, or text message. Telephone numbers will be accessible via Red Button and the BBC website. For telephone votes, a limit of 3 votes per telephone number applies. Telephone Voting: UK voters have the option to call from their landline using the extended (11-digit) number for their chosen contender(s) or from their mobile phones using the abbreviated (7-digit) number for their chosen contender(s). It is important to note that individuals calling from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man are advised to use their landlines and the extended (11-digit) number to prevent increased mobile charges, as the abbreviated (7-digit) numbers are not accessible in these regions due to circumstances beyond the BBC’s influence. Calls made to the extended (11-digit) number from both landlines and mobiles incur a charge of 15p plus the network’s access fee. Calls from mobiles to the abbreviated (7-digit) number are priced at 15p per vote and are generally less expensive than calling the extended (11-digit) number from a mobile; therefore, if possible, please dial the abbreviated (7-digit) number from your mobile. Texting is not permitted, nor is dialing the abbreviated (