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Contenders for the 2016 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award on 18 December

BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2016 Venue: Genting Arena, Birmingham Date: Sunday, 18 December Time: From 18:40 GMT Coverage: BBC One, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport website

Sixteen contenders have been shortlisted for the 2016 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

They will go forward to a vote on the night of the live show in Birmingham on Sunday, 18 December. The nominees are:

Nicola Adams - Boxing, Gareth Bale - Football, Alistair Brownlee - Triathlon, Sophie Christiansen - Equestrian, Kadeena Cox - Athletics/Cycling, Mo Farah - Athletics, Jason Kenny - Cycling, Laura Kenny - Cycling.

Andy Murray - Tennis, Adam Peaty - Swimming, Kate Richardson-Walsh - Hockey, Nick Skelton - Equestrian, Dame Sarah Storey - Cycling, Jamie Vardy - Football, Max Whitlock - Gymnastics, Danny Willett - Golf.

The 16 for 2016 were named after a year of great British sporting success, including at the Olympics and Paralympics in Rio.

How do you vote?

The public will vote for their favourite by phone and online during the live show.

Voting details, including phone numbers for each nominee, are announced during the programme and online. There is no voting via email, Red Button or by text.

This year's event will take place in front of 12,000 people at the Genting Arena in Birmingham.

Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan present the programme from 18:40 GMT on BBC One, with further coverage on BBC Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website

Who decides the shortlist?

The shortlist is compiled by a 12-member panel:

Representatives from BBC Sport: Barbara Slater (Director, BBC Sport), Philip Bernie (Head of TV Sport) and Carl Doran (Executive Editor, BBC Sports Personality of the Year)

Former nominees of an award: Ryan Giggs, Victoria Pendleton and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson

Representative from BBC Radio 5 live: Amy Lawrence

Pan-sports broadcaster: Ore Oduba

Representatives from sports journalism: David James (Sunday Mirror/Sunday People), Adam Sills (Daily/Sunday Telegraph) and Alison Kervin (Mail on Sunday)

Representative from UK sports industry: Liz Nicholl (Chief Executive, UK Sport)

Past 10 winners 2015 : Andy Murray (tennis) 2010: AP McCoy (horse racing) 2014: Lewis Hamilton (Formula 1) 2009: Ryan Giggs (football) 2013: Andy Murray (tennis) 2008: Sir Chris Hoy (cycling) 2012: Sir Bradley Wiggins (cycling) 2007: Joe Calzaghe (boxing) 2011: Mark Cavendish (cycling) 2006: Zara Phillips (equestrian)

What are the other awards?

In addition to the main prize, there will also be seven other awards:

Team of the Year

Coach of the Year

Overseas Sports Personality of the Year

Young Sports Personality of the Year

Helen Rollason Award for outsanding achievement in the face of adversity

Lifetime Achievement Award

Get Inspired Unsung Hero

The top three contenders for Young Sports Personality of the Year, chosen by an expert panel, will be revealed during Blue Peter on 8 December, with the winner announced in the run-up to the main show on 18 December.