Sports Personality of the Year Nominees Announced

The list features many of the 2008 Olympic heroes, including swimmer Rebecca Adlington, and cycling champions Nicole Cooke, Chris Hoy, Rebecca Romero and Bradley Wiggins.

Fellow Beijing winners sailor Ben Ainslie and 400m gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu also make the list.

Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, boxer Joe Calzaghe and British tennis number one Andy Murray make up the 10.

These sporting celebrities will now compete for the public vote on the night of the live show which will be broadcast on Sunday 14 December on BBC One.

The public will be able to vote for their BBC Sports Personality of the Year by telephone and details of the numbers to vote on will be given out during the programme which will be presented by Sue Barker, Gary Lineker and Jake Humphrey.

The live event will be held at Liverpool's Echo Arena for the first time and is a sell-out with around 9,000 people attending, making it the biggest Sports Personality ever. It promises to be another spectacular night, this time in the European Capital of Culture.

Roger Mosey, director of BBC Sport, said: "This is the first time Sports Personality Of The Year has been held in the north of England.

"It's a tremendous cast list and a great experience for the audience in the venue, and we hope this year will be a classic."

The shortlist of 10 contenders was put together by a panel of 28 sports editors from national and regional newspapers and magazines.

The other awards to be presented on the night will include:

- Team of the Year

- Coach of the Year

- Overseas Personality

- Young Personality

- Helen Rollason Award

- Unsung Hero Award

- Lifetime Achievement

Coverage of the show will also be available on the BBC Sport website, the Red Button and BBC Radio 5 Live.