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±«Óãtv Sports Personality of the Year 2011 will broadcast live from the studios of MediaCityUK, Salford Quays, the new home of ±«Óãtv Sport on Thursday 22 December.

Celebrating another fantastic sporting year, the show is presented by Sue Barker, Gary Lineker and Jake Humphrey and will be live on ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD, 8-10pm. The show will feature a stellar cast of sporting greats, and the grand finale will once again be a public vote for the coveted ±«Óãtv Sports Personality of the Year award, taken from a top 10 shortlist nominated by a panel of sporting experts. In 2010 12.6 million people tuned in to watch jockey AP McCoy take the award.

This year, ±«Óãtv Sports Personality of the Year will also stand as the culmination of Celebrate Sport, two weeks of sporting events taking place at MediaCityUK, Salford Quays, throughout December. The mix of live shows, exhibitions, tours and interactive experiences will give thousands of adults and children the chance to immerse themselves in the exciting world of sport, including:

• ±«Óãtv Radio 5 Live's iconic football phone-in, 606, and the 5 Live Sports Personality backstage show both broadcast in front of live studio audiences for the first time, plus The Monday Night Club and Fighting Talk live
• A Christmas Concert with the ±«Óãtv Philharmonic and the Manchester United Foundation Youth Choir, recording a sport themed concert in front of an audience for broadcast on ±«Óãtv Radio Manchester
• The National Football Museum will be in residence for two weeks, showcasing objects from their collection and some fun football-related activities
• Sue Barker with Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell in a special "Audience with Question of Sport"
• Plus special events with Match Of The Day and Football Focus, interactive exhibitions, children's activities and much more

Those interested in tickets for these events should go to for details of how to register their interest. Further information will be made available soon.

Barbara Slater, ±«Óãtv Director of Sport, says: "MediaCityUK in Salford will be a fitting venue for the 2011 ±«Óãtv Sports Personality of the Year. The facilities at the site are fantastic and the area has such a top-class sporting heritage, boasting top flight teams across many sports. This is a great opportunity to celebrate that. It's wonderful to be able to also offer so many people the chance to get involved through Celebrate Sport which will throw open the doors to many exciting sport events and experiences."

Also announced today is the opening for nominations for the ±«Óãtv Sports Unsung Hero 2011. One of the key awards at the ±«Óãtv Sports Personality of the Year event, ±«Óãtv Sports Unsung Hero recognizes and rewards outstanding contribution by individuals at the grassroots level of local sport.

Notes to Editors

±«Óãtv Sports Personality of the Year: This year's SPOTY will be a closed event. There will be no public tickets on sale. However, a small number of public tickets will be made available by public ballot. To register interest in tickets for Celebrate Sport and ±«Óãtv Sports Personality of the Year events visit the website.

Celebrate Sport with the ±«Óãtv: To register interest in tickets for Celebrate Sport with the ±«Óãtv events visit .

±«Óãtv Sports Unsung Hero

Nominations are made via a form obtainable from can be requested by calling 03700 100 800 or picked up from ±«Óãtv Local Radio and Regional TV centres. Calls to this number are the same as costs to 01/02 geographic numbers, although calls from mobiles may cost more depending on the provider.

People are asked to detail the numbers of years a nominee has been involved in that sport or organisation, the amount of time given each week, what they do, and how it has improved people's enjoyment of sport and life.

We also ask what being involved has meant to their local community.

Full terms and conditions are available on the website.

LW