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SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2012 at ExCeL in London

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be named during a live awards show on Sunday, 16 December 2012 (BBC One & BBC One HD).

Voting details and criteria are below.

MAIN AWARD - NOMINATION PROCESS FOR TOP 12 CONTENDERS

An expert panel (hereafter 'the Panel') will be convened in November 2012 in London to decide the shortlist for the Sports Personality of the Year award. The Sports Personality of the Year production team will provide the Panel with a list of the top 50 or more sportspeople from 2012, including information on their achievements. The Panel will be free to consider other potential candidates.

The Panel also had the right to amend the criteria for the main award (as well as the Overseas Sports Personality of the Year, Team of the Year and/or Coach of the Year - see below) should there be unanimous agreement amongst panel members to do so.

The Panel will comprise 12 members this year:

•4 representatives of the BBC: Barbara Slater (Director of BBC Sport); Philip Bernie (Head of TV Sport); Eleanor Oldroyd (representative of BBC radio 5 live); and Carl Doran (Executive Editor of Sports Personality of the Year).

•3 representatives of the UK written press: sports editors from The Daily Mail, The Sun and The Observer.

•3 former nominees: Baroness Tanni-Grey Thompson, Sir Stephen Redgrave & Denise Lewis OBE.

•Baroness Sue Campbell, Chair of UK Sport.

•1 individual, multi-sport, broadcaster/journalist: Sue Mott.

The Panel will select a short list of 12 sportspeople on the basis of the following criteria:

•reflects UK sporting achievements on the national and/or international stage;

•represents the breadth and depth of UK sports; and

•takes into account 'impact' over and beyond the sport or sporting achievement in question.

The Panel will endeavour to produce a short-list based on reaching a consensus view. If a consensus view cannot be reached on all or some of the candidates, then the Panel will be asked to vote for the remaining candidates. In the event of a tied vote, the Chairperson's decision (Director, BBC Sport) will be binding.

The shortlist of 12 contenders was announced during 'The One Show' on Monday 26 November (BBC One, 1900 GMT) and published on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year website.

Vote on the night

The public only will decide the winner from the shortlist of 12 contenders during the live show with a phone vote. This will be overseen by an independent adjudicator.

In the unlikely event of:

•A tie in the public vote amongst the two contenders obtaining the highest number of votes, the award will be shared amongst those two, there will be no award in second place category and the third place category award will go to the contender scoring highest after the two in the tie.

•A tie in the public vote amongst the three contenders obtaining the highest number of votes, the award will be shared amongst the three and there will be no awards in second and third place categories.

•A tie in the public vote amongst two contenders obtaining the second highest number of votes, the second place award will be shared amongst those two and there will be no award in third place category.

•A tie in the public vote amongst two contenders obtaining the third highest number of votes, the third place award will be shared amongst those two.

•A full list of the number of votes polled by each contender will be available on the BBC Sports Personality website at a later date.

Voting Terms and Conditions

1.- Voting for the main award will be from a shortlist of 12 contenders announced during the live show on BBC One and BBC One HD on Sunday 16th December 2012 and also on BBC 5 Live.

2.- Voting will only be available by phone. A long number as well as a shortcode to call for each contender will be revealed on the programme. There is no voting via the BBC Sport website, email, red button or by text.

3.- Voters in the UK can choose either to call from their landline using the long (11-digit) number for the contender/s of their choice or from their mobile phones using the shortcode (7-digit) number for the contender/s of their choice. Please note that callers from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man should call from their landlines using the long (11-digit) number to avoid higher mobile charges.

4.- Vote lines are opened and closed at the times specified on the programme. Please do not call before the lines open or after the lines have closed as your vote will not be counted and you may still be charged. Please be aware voting time may change.

5.- If you are watching or listening BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2012 on iPlayer, following through a website or any other time shift or catch up service you should not vote since the lines may have closed.

6.-Calls to the shortcode (7-digit) number cost 15p. Calls to the long number (11-digit) number cost 15p from BT landlines, other networks may vary. Calls to the long (11-digit) number will cost considerably more if made from a mobile device. Therefore, only call the long (11-digit) number, when dialling from a landline. To vote from your mobile in the UK, call the short (7-digit) number announced for your chosen candidate/s. You cannot text and you cannot dial the short (7-digit) number from a landline.

7.- Voting is restricted to callers from UK (including Channel Islands and Isle of Man) numbers. Please note that BBC employees who are in any way connected to the vote, their close relatives or anyone directly connected in any way with the production of the programme or the provision of telephony services to the programme is not eligible to vote.

8.- You must obtain the bill payer's permission before voting.

9.- Please be sure you carefully dial only the number of the contender/s you wish to vote for.

10.- The winner will be announced live on the programme, and on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year website.

11.- The BBC reserves the right to disqualify votes if it has reasonable grounds to suspect that fraudulent, excessive or suspicious patterns of voting have occurred or if it considers there has been any attempt to rig the voting.

12.- All voting will be overseen by an independent verification service.

13.- The BBC reserves the right to cancel or suspend voting at any time. In the event of any such cancellation or suspension, a technical failure or any other malfunction with the phone vote, the BBC reserves the right to arrange for the winner to be decided by a contingency arrangement from the votes cast by a pre-agreed contingency panel. This process is also independently verified.

14.- For purpose of verifying any claim for refunds (where offered) or investigating possible voting irregularities, the BBC may need to request the network operator to disclose the telephone number that you are voting from. Please note that this will still be required where you have originally opted not to disclose your telephone number (caller's line identification barring). If you do not agree to this, you should not vote.

Where such investigations are required, the BBC will only ever use your telephone number for the purposes of processing refunds or investigating possible voting irregularities and will not publish or provide it to anyone without permission, except where required for enforcement of these terms. You can read more about the BBC Privacy Policy here http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy

15.- The BBC, its sub-contractors, subsidiaries and/or agencies cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for any technical failure or malfunction or any other problem with any telephone network or otherwise which may result in any vote being lost or not properly registered or recorded.

16.- The voting in this programme accords with the BBC's Code of Conduct for Competitions and Voting, details of which can be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/page/guidelines-appendices-appendix-2-competitions

Definition of who is eligible

Voted for by the public live during the TV show, this prestigious award will be given to the sportsman or woman whose actions have most captured the public's imagination in 2012. Non-playing coaches or management are not eligible - inclusive of those in or out of employment.

People are eligible to win Sports Personality of the Year if:

- They are citizens of Britain or Northern Ireland or all of the following criteria apply:

- They play a significant amount of their sport in the UK

- Their core achievements that year were achieved in the UK, and not with a non-UK based team (in which case they would more likely qualify for the Overseas award)

- They are residents in the UK

OVERSEAS SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

To the foreign sportsman or woman who has made the greatest impression in the world of sport this year (includes all non-UK sportsmen and women who do not qualify for the Sports Personality of the Year award under its criteria.)

The expert panel responsible for choosing the shortlist for the main Sports Personality of the Year award will decide the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places for the Overseas Sports Personality of the Year award based on reaching a consensus view. If a consensus view cannot be reached on the top three, then the Panel will be asked to vote. In the event of a tied vote, the Chairperson's decision will be binding.

The winner will be announced during the Sports Personality of the Year 2012 show, with full details on the BBC website.

COACH OF THE YEAR

To the coach who has made the biggest impact in UK sport.

The expert panel responsible for choosing the shortlist for the main Sports Personality of the Year award will decide the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places for the Coach of the Year award based on reaching a consensus view. If a consensus view cannot be reached on the top three, then the Panel will be asked to vote. In the event of a tied vote, the Chairperson's decision will be binding.

The winner will be announced during the Sports Personality of the Year 2012 show, with full details on the BBC website.

TEAM OF THE YEAR

For the team in an individual sport or sporting discipline that has achieved the most notable performance in the calendar year to date. The team should have significant UK interest or involvement.

For the avoidance of doubt this criteria excludes Team GB/Paralympics GB but includes the likes of British Cycling, Rowing Coxless Four and the European Ryder Cup team.

The expert panel responsible for choosing the shortlist for the main Sports Personality of the Year award will decide the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places for the Team of the Year award based on reaching a consensus view. If a consensus view cannot be reached on the top three, then the Panel will be asked to vote. In the event of a tied vote, the Chairperson's decision will be binding.

The winner will be announced during the Sports Personality of the Year show, with details on the BBC website.

YOUNG SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

This will be awarded to the outstanding young sportsperson aged 16 or under on 1 January 2012, selected from nominations made to the BBC and by sports governing bodies via the Youth Sport Trust.

People are eligible to win the award if they are the right age and they are citizens of Britain or Northern Ireland or all three of the following criteria:

- They play a significant amount of their sport in the UK

- Their core achievements that year were achieved in the UK, and not with a national team (in which case they would more likely qualify for the Overseas award)

- They are residents in the UK

Judging Panel

BBC Sport's John Inverdale chaired a panel which included two representatives from the Youth Sports Trust, BBC Sport presenters Ore Oduba, Sonali Shah and Tina Dahaley and two former Young Sports Personality of the Year winners.

The panel selects the winner by secret ballot. The final vote is independently verified.

The winner will be announced live on the Sports Personality of the Year 2012 show and the BBC website.

HELEN ROLLASON AWARD

A special BBC award for inspirational and outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.

There is no vote. This is a BBC gift to choose the winner who is selected by BBC Sport.

The award will be presented live on the BBC Sports Personality of The Year 2012 show.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The Lifetime Achievement award honours someone who has made a major impact on the world of sport during their lifetime.

There is no vote. This is a BBC gift to choose this winner who is selected by BBC Sport.

The award will be presented live on the BBC Sports Personality of The Year 2012 show.

UNSUNG HERO AWARD

Terms and Conditions:

1. Any UK resident (incl. Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) aged 16 or over on 1 January 2012 is eligible to be nominated, except previous winners of the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Awards, BBC employees and any person connected to the awards and their close relatives. Proof of age, identity and eligibility may be requested.

2. The nominee must:

(i) be either an individual or no more than two people who are both involved in the same sporting activity

(ii) help amateurs participate in a sports activity

(iii) offer help that does not form part of their job or take place at their place of work

(iv) help voluntarily with no financial reward

(v) in the opinion of the nominator be deserving of a BBC award and not bring the BBC into disrepute

(vi) have consented to be nominated.

3. Nominations can be made by accessing www.bbc.co.uk/sportsunsunghero or the relevant BBC regional online page from Monday 17 September 2012 and must be received no later than 11.59pm on Monday 29 October 2012.

4. Only one nomination is permitted per person and should be on the official BBC form. Nominators should declare any professional or personal relationship with the person or people nominated.

5. The BBC will appoint a representative in each of the 12 English Regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who will shortlist no more than 10 nominees for that region. The short-listing criteria will be (i) The extent of the nominees' contribution at grassroots level of their sport, (ii) the range and number of people helped, (iii) the impact on their local community, and (iv) the personal sacrifices or commitment made.

6. Regional judging panels consisting of BBC and non-BBC judges will then select a BBC Sports Unsung Hero winner for each region from those shortlisted and based on the criteria above. The 15 regional winners become eligible for the overall BBC Sports Unsung Hero 2012 Award.

7. A national judging panel selects the overall winner from the 15 regional winners based on the aforementioned criteria, any supporting documentation and a short BBC film about each of the regional winners. The panel met on Monday 3rd December 2012 and comprised 2011 Unsung Hero winner Ian Mirfin; multi Paralympic gold medallist Sarah Storey; Tanya Joseph Head of Partnerships for Sport England; Hannah Underwood Chair of NE and Cumbria Audience Council; plus 3 BBC representatives Charles Runcie Head of Sport for English Regions, Shelley Alexander BBC Outreach Manager and Carl Doran Executive Editor Sports Personality of the Year.

8. The overall winner will be announced live on BBC One's Sports Personality of the Year 2012 programme in London in December, to which all regional winners are invited to attend.

9. The judges' decision as to the winner is final. No correspondence relating to the awards will be entered into.

10. The regional winners will each receive a regional BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award 2012 Trophy and the national winner will receive the national BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award 2012 trophy. There are no cash alternatives and the awards cannot be sold or transferred in any circumstances.

11. Nominees must agree to take part in any post-award publicity if required.

12. The BBC reserves the right to:

(i) vary the opening and closing times for making nominations and to vary the date of the announcement of the awards;

(ii) disqualify any nominee who breaches the rules or has acted fraudulently in any way or whose actions could reasonably bring the BBC and/or the award into disrepute; and

(iii) cancel or vary the awards or any of the selection processes or criteria, at any stage, if in its opinion it is deemed necessary or if circumstances arise outside its control.

13. The BBC, its sub-contractors, subsidiaries and/or agencies cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for any technical failure or malfunction or any other problem which may result in any nomination not being properly registered.

14. The BBC will only use personal details for the purposes of administering this award and will not publish or provide them to anyone without permission. You can read more about the BBC Privacy Policy at www.bbc.co.uk/privacy

15. Nominators and nominees will be deemed to have accepted these rules and agree to be bound by them.

SPOTY 2012 - TICKETS

TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. Security checks and safety measures will be in operation including bag searches. Failure to comply with these will result in admittance to the venue being refused or in being ejected from the venue.

2. The BBC reserves the right to refuse admission in reasonable circumstances.

3. Any food must be consumed prior to entering the Arena.

4. Alcohol will be available for purchase from concessions but will not be permitted into the Arena.

5. Persons will not be admitted to the event if in the opinion of the stewards, they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

6. Children under 16 are not permitted unless accompanied by an adult. No children under the age of 10 will be admitted.

7. Ticket holders consent to the filming and sound recording of themselves as members of the audience.

8. It is possible the sound pressures may exceed 96dB.

9. This ticket will not be exchanged or refunded unless the performance is cancelled.

10. The resale of this ticket is prohibited.

11. Every member of the audience must possess a ticket which must be produced to gain admittance to the Arena.

12. The BBC reserves the right to make any alteration to the advertised details for the performances.

13. The use of photographic or recording equipment in the Arena is prohibited. Flash photography is also prohibited.

EXCEL LONDON VENUE INFORMATION

BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2012 will take place at ExCeL London. You should enter from the WEST side.

You can find a map of the ExCel here - http://www.excel-london.co.uk/whats-on/bbc-sports-personality-of-the-year-2012/ external-link

YOU ARE ADVISED TO TRAVEL ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT IF POSSIBLE.

GETTING THERE

The Jubilee Line is recommended as the quickest route to ExCeL London. Alight at Canning Town and change onto a

Beckton-bound DLR train, for the quick 2-stop journey to CUSTOM HOUSE for ExCeL (West).

Call London Travel information on 020 7222 1234 or visit www.tfl.gov.uk for more information

If you are driving, please approach the venue via road signs for ExCeL (West).

Car parking is available at the venue and it operates on a Pay and Display system. Please follow existing signs from the

West to Orange and Purple car parks, NW and North middle entrances off Sandstone Lane in zones 1 - 5 and 12 - 16.

Overflow parking is available in multi-storey car park by Royal Victoria DLR/Crowne Plaza Docklands Hotel.

Disabled parking is in the Orange Car Park Zone 2 Upper.

TIMINGS

Doors to the Boulevard will open at 14.00. Doors to the Arena will open at 17.10.

All ticketholders must be seated in the Arena by 18.45.

SEAT NUMBER

Your seat number is made up of three parts as follows:

BLOCK / ROW / SEAT NUMBER For instance BB/E/14 would mean block BB, row E, seat number 14.

FOOD AND DRINK

A variety of food and drink concessions will be open in the Boulevard from 14:00 until 18:00. Alcohol and food will not be

permitted the Arena. Soft drinks and water can be taken into the Arena.

DISABLED ACCESS

Please the following link for details of disabled facilities available at the ExCeL, http://www.excel-london.co.uk/visitingexcel/disabled-access/

A wired induction loop will be provided in part of the Arena for the hard of hearing. Sign language interpreters will be

provided for the profoundly deaf in a specific area.

CHILDREN

All children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No children under the age of 10 will be admitted.

SPECIAL EFFECTS

Please be advised that the show you are attending may have high noise levels, flashing lights and special effect (including

smoke and pyrotechnic effects) occurring at any time during the performance.

As the event is a BBC presentation there will be limited opportunity to leave seats for comfort breaks; however the BBC

will work with the Arena team to let you know when there is appropriate time to leave the seats. This time will be limited

and we would ask you to be patient with the ExCeL staff as you return to your seats during the show.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Customers will be asked to switch off mobile phones when the show starts.

There are no cloakroom facilities available at the venue so we are asking ticketholders where possible not to bring heavy

coats or bags.

Banners will not be permitted within the Arena.

RESALE OF TICKETS

The resale of tickets is prohibited.

Please note the above information was correct at the time of going to print.