SPOTY contenders revealed for 2020 award

A shortlist of six contenders has been announced for the 2020 BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) award.

The nominees are Formula 1's Lewis Hamilton, jockey Hollie Doyle, boxer Tyson Fury, footballer Jordan Henderson, cricketer Stuart Broad and snooker star Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Voting will be open to the public during the Sports Personality programme on BBC One on Sunday, December 20.

The show is being broadcast live from Media City in Salford.

Football pundit Alex Scott will join the presenting line-up alongside Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan to look back on a truly unusual year of sport in front of a huge virtual audience and millions of viewers on television.

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

The public can vote by phone or online on the night for the main award, with full details announced during the show.

Other awards to be announced include Team and Coach of the Year, World Sport Star of the Year and Unsung Hero, while Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford will receive a special award in recognition of his work to raise awareness of child food poverty in the UK.

SPOTY winner Hodgkinson says she’s close to breaking 800m world record

Keely Hodgkinson says she feels "pretty close" to breaking the 800m world record after the Olympic champion capped a memorable 2024 by being named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Spring King Matt wins $100,000 at Grand Slam Track

Britain's Olympic medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith won $100,000 (£77,500) on Saturday after victory in the 200m at the inaugural Grand Slam Track in Kingston, Jamaica.

Springboks beat All Blacks to win record fourth Rugby World Cup

South Africa clinched a record fourth Rugby World Cup title by doing just enough to deny 14-man New Zealand and retain their crown in Paris, as captain, Siya Kolisi goes down in History.

Springboks begin World Cup victory tour

Thousands of people flooded the streets of Pretoria and Johannesburg as South Africa's rugby team begin a World Cup victory tour.

Springboks return as national heroes

Hundreds of thousands of screaming South Africans greeted their heroes as they danced and sang at OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg to welcome the returning Springboks who arrived home with their most valued cargo - the Rugby World Cup.

With star attractions, captain Siya Kolisi, leading the victorious team off the plane, with the Webb Ellis Trophy in hand, the exuberant delight proved overwhelming as the mass crowd – a true reflection of the ‘Rainbow Nation’ that the country is perceived to be – joined in unison to hail the three-times champions.

Following their much-hipped exploits in Japan, people of all varying backgrounds - Black and white, male and female, young, middle aged and old, low-income earners and the wealthy – all stood side-by-side as one mass sea of green to salute their heroes as a carnival atmosphere enveloped the normally sedate international arrivals section of the airport with every Springbok receiving a deafening seal of appreciation.

Francois Pienaar, who captained the memorable Springbok 1995 World Cup winners, hailed the Springboks' latest World triumph as bigger than then.

“This is bigger because it is a transformed team”, he said. “58million people watching in South Africa and all races woken up wearing green - which wouldn’t have happened in my time.

“It has evolved from my time. We had an incredible moment with Mr Mandela, but just the support from the nation for this team and captain.

“Seeing Siya Kolisi as the the first Black captain of South African rugby - in his 50th game  - and with his dad flying for the first time in his life to watch his son play.

“Wow! You don’t get much bigger than that”.

A visibly tired Kolisi said: "We are hugely grateful, humbled and overawed by the support in Japan and here.

"This reception is something else - we couldn't begin to thank everyone for backing us throughout this journey.

"We did this for all South Africans”, he added. “Ordinary people who work tirelessly all day long to care for their families and friends, and ultimately make our wonderful country an even better place.

"Winning the World Cup on foreign soil was very special and arriving home to this wonderful support is the cherry on top".

Following their first dominant display in the crushing 32-12 victory over pre-match favourites England, in Yokohama, South Africa became the first side to win the Webb Ellis Cup having lost a match in the tournament - they were beaten by New Zealand in the pool stage.

But, their fans – from all backgrounds – couldn’t care a j

Sprint King Bolt welcomes newly born twin sons Thunder and Saint Leo

Sprinter Usain Bolt has had twin boys, named Thunder Bolt and Saint Leo Bolt. Bolt, 34, announced the news on Instagram on Father's Day, with a lightning bolt emoji next to each of his children's names. The Olympic champion posted a photo of him and partner Kasi Bennett, with their twin boys and one-year-old daughter Olympia Lightning. The couple did not say when exactly the twins were born.

Bennett also posted a photo with the babies, saying that Bolt was the rock of this family and the greatest daddy to our little ones. Olympia Lightning was born in May 2020, and her name was announced publicly two months later. Before her birth, Bolt had kept followers updated of Bennett's pregnancy on his social media. However, neither he nor Bennett had posted about her pregnancy with the twins. Bolt, a Jamaican sprinting icon, retired from athletics in 2017 and still holds the 100m and 200m world records, making him the fastest man in history. He is also the only man to have won three 100m Olympic titles and 23 major gold medals during his career.

After leaving athletics he tried to play professional football, but then announced he was leaving sports entirely in 2019. Bolt is not the first celebrity to use a play on words when naming children. In 2013 Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian West, who are currently separated, made headlines when they named their child North West. Musician Jermaine Jackson named his son, who is now 20 years old, Jermajesty.

And television actor Rob Morrow from 1990s series Northern Exposure named his daughter, who is now also an actor, Tu Morrow.

Sprint-Queen, Dina ‘bags’ victory by design

After having to be content with silver in the 100metres, sprint queen, Dina Asher-Smith, majestically stepped from behind the shadows of that disappointment to reign supreme at the top of the world with a oh so comfortable win in the 200m final in Doha – thus becoming the first British woman ever to win a major global sprint title.

The 23-year-old was the outstanding favourite, stormed to World Championships as she outclassed the field to take gold in a British record of 21.88 seconds and become the first Briton to win a world or Olympic sprint title since Linford Christie at Stuttgart 1993.

The race, in front of yet another sparsely-filled Khalifa Stadium, was a formality for Asher-Smith as she came off the bend comfortably in front before powering away from the rest of the pack in the final straight.

Though near-empty, a large contingent of British fans and fellow-Team GB competitors did their extra-loud ‘bit’ to see her over the line in no uncertain terms.

"I woke up today thinking, 'This is it”, an overwhelmed and joyously tearful Asher-Smith said. “This is the moment you did all your work for' and the tiredness disappeared."

Inspired to glory after her mum, Julia, and father, Winston, offered her a Chanel handbag if she hit her target.

Now Dina will be looking to fill her new, shiny exclusive designer-wear with further gold medals as she prepares herself for the sprint relay, then Tokyo, for the 2020 Olympics.

American, Brittany Brown, took the silver medal whilst Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji took bronze.

Sprinter, Ohuruogu, cleared of anti-doping violation for prohibited association

Sprinter, Victoria Ohuruogu, has been cleared of an anti-doping rule violation concerning alleged prohibited association with a banned athlete.

Spurs follow Liverpool to become latest to reverse turlough

Following Champions-elect, Liverpool, fellow Premier League giants, Tottenham Hotspur have also reverse the decision to use the government furlough scheme for their non-playing staff during the coronavirus pandemic.

The U-turn comes on the back of overwhelming opposition that the club was receiving from fans, players – present and former – football fans in general and an extensive number people at large.

With a back-lash that proved hugely unbearable by the decision-makers at the North London club, they were forced to put out a statement which said that all non-playing staff will receive “100% of their pay for April and May”.

It comes two weeks after the club announced that 550 of their employees were due to have to take a 20% pay cut ‘to protect jobs’.

This latest statement included the fact that only board members – who include chairman, Daniel Levy, who earned an estimated £7m last year - at the club will be taking a cut in their salary.

He (Levy) said: “We regret any concern caused during an anxious time and hope that the work our supporters will see us doing in the coming weeks, as our stadium takes on a whole new purpose, will make them proud of their club.

The club’s £850m 62,000-seeter Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – which is one of the most advanced in the world - has been offered to the NHS in the fight against coronavirus, with the club using it to support vulnerable individuals affected by the outburst.

Newcastle United, Norwich City and Bournemouth are amongst Premier League clubs who will furlough some of their non-playing staff, fellow Premier League club, Southampton, have become the first in the division to announce an agreement with their players over wage deferrals during the coronavirus crisis.

Spurs' Hammon the first woman to lead team in the NBA

Becky Hammon became the first woman to lead an NBA team after the San Antonio Spurs' head coach Gregg Popovich was ejected against the Los Angeles Lakers. Popovich put assistant coach Hammon in charge after he was removed in the second quarter of the Spurs' 121-107 defeat by the Lakers in Texas.

Hammon, who joined the Spurs in 2014, said: "Obviously it's a big deal and a substantial moment "I try not to think of the huge picture and huge aspect of it because it can be overwhelming.

“I was trying to get the guys in the right spots and trying to get them motivated. Obviously, it’s a learning situation for all of us, but I would have loved to have walked out there with a win with the guys.”

Former WNBA star Hammon, who was the first woman to join an NBA coaching staff, said she did not know she would take charge if Popovich were to be sent off until he pointed at her and said: "You got 'em."

Popovich was thrown out by official Tony Brown after shouting and entering the court when he felt a foul was incorrectly not called.

Scoring double figures for a 1,000th consecutive game, extending his own NBA record, LeBron James led the Lakers with 26 points on his 36th birthday.

"It was a beautiful thing just to hear her barking out calls, barking out sets," he said, “and congratulations to her and for our league."

Lakers coach Frank Vogel said: “Well deserved. I’ve talked to her before and she really knows her stuff and obviously she’s here for a reason. She’s equipped, intelligent (and the) guys have great respect for her. She’s going to be a great coach one day.”

A three-time All-American at Colorado State, Becky played for the New York Liberty and San Antonio Stars in the WNBA as well as overseas before retiring to join Popovich’s staff in 2014.

She is the first full-time female assistant coach in league history.

Spurs’ Bentancur banned over racial slur aimed at team-mate, Son

Tottenham Hotspurs’ midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been given a seven-match domestic ban by the Football Association for using a racial slur about team-mate Son Heung-min.

Spurs’ Son rewarded for best military service

Tottenham Hotspur forward, Son Heung-min, has won an award for the best performance after he completed his three-week military service in his native South Korea.

Officials said that the 27-year-old Premier League superstar had excelled in his shooting skills and he was also the top performer among a group of 157 trainees.

He was due to serve 21 months, but earned an exemption after being part of the South Korea team which won the Asian Games in 2018 and, as a result, only had to complete three weeks.

Son returned to his homeland, in March, to continue with his recovery from a fractured arm while the season is in suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is mandatory that all South Korean men must complete military service in their country by the time they reach 27.

With the Premier League’s ‘Project Restart’ hoping to see the top-flight resume in July, it could mean an official return to group training very soon – which Son could miss, due to him having to spend a period of time in quarantine on his return to the UK.

The Spurs star underwent exposure to rear gas, went on lengthy hikes and was trained in how to fire guns during his national service.

Squash at The Rep

The British Open – one of the most prestigious and historic tournaments in professional squash – is being held in Birmingham for the first time in over two decades as the world’s best players are competing at the Birmingham Rep and Edgbaston Priory Club.

Considered the ‘Wimbledon of squash’, the British Open is squash’s longest-running tournament and has become the most distinguished event on the PSA World Tour calendar and is second only to the PSA World Championships in renown.

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan to win sixth Asia Cup title

Sri Lanka scored 170-6 off their 20 overs, set up by Bhanuka Rajapaksa's unbeaten 71 from 45 balls. Mohammad Rizwan scored 55 in Pakistan's reply but Pramod Madushan took 4-34 to end their hopes.

The win marks a big turnaround for Sri Lanka, coached by former England coach Chris Silverwood, after they lost their opening game to Afghanistan.

Stage 10 sees Hoole win in Giro d'Italia

Dutchman Daan Hoole secured his first Grand Tour stage win as he beat Great Britain's Josh Tarling in the time trial on stage 10 of the Giro d'Italia in Pisa.

Star-studded event Grassroot Soccer World AIDS Day Gala is set for November 30 in London

Grassroot Soccer, the renowned global adolescent health organisation, will host its annual World AIDS Day Gala on Thursday, November 30 at Lindley Hall in London.

Stars align for Asian Tour’s St Andrews showpiece

The US$1.5 million St Andrews Bay Championship will be the 12th leg of the 2023 Asian Tour season and the sixth stop on The International Series. “As our first tournament in the country that gave golf to the world, the St Andrews Bay Championship promises to be a momentous week for us,” said Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour Commissioner & CEO.

“It’s fitting, therefore, that we should have Major champions such as Sergio and Charl and players of the calibre of Joaquin and Mito to grace this auspicious occasion.”

Stars and Glamourous Revellers Put Doncaster Races Firmly On The National Social Calendar As They Descend Upon The Cazoo St Leger Festival In Their Thousands

Doncaster Racecourse is celebrating the biggest week in its history, after 50,000 glamorous racegoers flocked to the stands to enjoy the four days of the Cazoo St Leger Festival. A far cry from the eery silence of 2020’s race, which took place behind closed doors. 

Reality TV stars from Made in Chelsea (Digby Edgeley & Julius Cowdrey), Love Island (Danny Williams), Married At First (Amy Christophers) & Survival of the Fittest (Samantha Dewhurst) were amongst the stylish racegoers who enjoyed festivities and horseracing, during an unusually sunny September week in Yorkshire.

Stars continue to shine on another golden night in Budapest

24-hours ago Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith claimed a gutsy 400m silver as he finished an agonising 0.09 seconds behind Jamaican champion Antonio Watson.