25 November 2009

Two athletics World Champions are tipped as favorites for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) award, and with that the chance to cement athletics as Britain’s number one Olympic sport is up for grabs.

Gold medallists Jessica Ennis and Phillips Idowu are in the running for the prestigious award, following their respective heptathlon and triple jump victories at this year’s World Championships, which were held in Berlin in August, but are up against tough competition.

Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button, Britain’s most famous gymnast Beth Tweddle and Ashes winning cricketers Andrew Strauss and Stuart Broad are among the lineup of top sporting greats also tipped for nomination.

A panel of more than 30 leading sporting experts from a selection of newspaper sports editors and magazines will nominate a final 10 sportsmen and women on 30 November during ‘The One Show’ on (BBC One, 1900 GMT) and will also appear on the BBC Sports Personality website.

IAAF World Youth double sprint Champion Jodie Williams also adds to the sports credentials after she was named as a top three contender for Young Sports Personality of the Year.

Remember: Public voting will open during the live awards show on 13 December on BBC One.