The annual celebration of sporting achievement, climaxing with the words: "The winner of the 40th
BBC Sports Personality of the Year is...."
Runner Chris Chataway took the first title in 1954, and athletes have subsequently won the famous television camera trophy on 14 occasions. World championship gold medallists
Linford Christie , Sally Gunnell and Colin Jackson will be contenders to maintain that tradition.
Others expected to figure strongly in the viewers' poll are Formula 1 's Damon Hill , who won three grand prix races in a row, Nigel Mansell , who won the IndyCar title at the first attempt, Lennox Lewis , the World heavyweight boxing champion, and snooker's Stephen Hendry.
Introduced from London's
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre by Desmond Lynam and Steve Rider , who also reveal the Team of the Year and Overseas
Personality of the Year. Executive producer Martin Hopkins
Editor Brian Barwick
Michael Parkinson 's
1993 sporting highlights
SEE FEATURE page 42
As coverage of the review Is live, subsequent programmes may run late.