It was with child-like excitement that I made my way to the Arena on Sunday evening for the 56th annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony.
This was only the 4th time the event had been held outside of London, and the largest ever, with over 11,000 people squeezed into Sheffield’s premier venue.
The event was emotional throughout, with the awards marking some quite brilliant achievements. The Lifetime Achievement Award was won by Spanish golfing legend Seve Ballesteros who made golf the game it is today through his charisma and audacity.
Due to his ongoing fight against brain cancer he was not present but spoke via a video link from his home in Spain. Golfing heroes, including Colin Montgomerie were on stage to congratulate Seve, and a teary eyed Jose Maria Olazabal was on hand to give him the award in person. However, Seve himself said little and looked unwell, making the lasting feeling one of sadness.
The Helen Rollason Award, for courage in the face of adversity, was given to Major Phil Packer who suffered injuries in Iraq last year that have left him as a paraplegic.
Despite these injuries he this year walked 2 miles a day for 13 days to complete the London Marathon.
As he received his award, and outlined his plans to set up the British Inspiration Trust to encourage young disabled people to participate in sport, there was a great sense of admiration for a man who has also rowed the channel and climbed a 3,000 foot mountain to raise a total of over £1.2 million for the Help The Heroes charity.
A special award was also given to comedian Eddie Izzard for raising over £200,000 for charity by running 43 marathons in 51 days.
For a 47 year old, who doesn’t even look particularly fit, I find this an unbelievable feat. I can’t understand why his efforts didn’t receive more media attention. When compared with the media storm surrounding David Walliams’ swimming of the Channel in 2006, Eddie’s efforts seem to have gone largely unnoticed.
As the evening drew to a close it was time for the winner of the main award to be announced. The time for emotion was over. I thought the viewers at home would make an objective decision as to who had been the best sportsman of 2009. I thought wrong.
In third place… University of Sheffield graduate and world heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis. In second place… Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button. Well if he hadn’t won it, who had? Maybe it was heavyweight world champion David Haye, who defeated the Russian giant.
Maybe, as I had hoped from the outset, it would be the fastest man on 2 wheels and winner of a record 6 stages of the Tour de France, Mark Cavendish. In fact it was neither of these.
It was Ryan Giggs. My heart sunk. Without wishing to take anything away from his outstanding career achievements, how could someone who only started 15 league games last season be picked ahead of world champions?
He’s not even the best footballer of 2009, let alone sportsman. As far as I’m concerned the fact he’s 36, has won 11 league titles, and been at the same club his entire career is irrelevant. The Lifetime Achievement Award had already been taken by Seve. This awardwas only for 2009.
The result was a sad reflection on how football mad our country has become, dominated in particular by Man United supporters scattered everywhere across the country except Manchester.
They spoil a good sporting event like Americans spoil a good holiday. The result is also likely to further deter true sports fans from tuning in to the event next year.
Since figures showthe X Factor final was far more popularthis year, the BBC can’t afford for this to happen, and I truly hope it won’t because the event is a splendid celebration of British sporting achievements throughout the calendar year.
By Carl Tilling