BBC Sports Personality of Year to go ahead despite no Wimbledon, Olympics, Open or Euro 2020

The BBC Sports Personality of Year awards will take place on December 20, the corporation has confirmed.

Ben Stokes after winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award alongside Dina Asher Smith, who finished third, at the ceremony in Aberdeen.

There had been uncertainty over the 2020 edition of the long-running annual TV programme after the year’s sporting calendar was heavily disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

With major events such as Wimbledon, the Olympics, the Open and Euro 2020 not taking place as planned, and widespread cancellations during lockdown, sporting action was significantly curtailed.

The BBC has, however, decided to broaden the scope of this year’s programme.

“The show will not only celebrate the very best of elite sport this year but will also reflect how ordinary members of the public and unsung heroes all over the UK have used the power of sport to keep the nation going through challenging times,” a statement read.

“The evening will champion the teams that triumphed despite the pandemic, sports stars that achieved greatness even with interrupted training schedules, and the coaches and local heroes that made it all possible.”

The 67th Sports Personality of the Year awards will be screened live from Media City in Salford.

BBC director of sport Barbara Slater said: “As we know, it has been a strange and unprecedented year, but we have still been fortunate enough to see plenty of sporting highlights which we look forward to honouring on the night.”

Last year’s show was staged in Aberdeen and England cricketer Ben Stokes was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2019.

In a public vote, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton finished second while sprinter Dina Asher-Smith was third.

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