After the unprecedented stop-start nature of 2020, sports fans all over the world would have thoroughly enjoyed this exceedingly busy year. With postponed sporting events from last year — like the Olympics and Euro 2020 — cramming up our calendars and spectators allowed to return to stadiums, racecourses and venues in full capacity up and down the country, it has been a huge sigh of relief for sport-lovers after a strange period of watching events take place behind closed doors.

Of course, to celebrate a jam-packed 12 months of constant sporting action we have Sports Personality of the Year! As the SPOTY betting predicted, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton pipped Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and horse racing phenomenon Hollie Doyle to the award last year as he won the F1 world title for a record-equalling seventh time and SPOTY 2021 will be just as hotly contested.

That said, we have put together this guide of everything you need to know about this year’s awards ceremony. Read on to find out more!

Read Also: Ballon d’Or winners list of Top three position in last five years

When and where is SPOTY taking place?

Familiar faces in the form of Gary Lineker, Gabby Logan, Clare Balding and Alex Scott will take centre stage at Salford’s MediaCity to host the 68^th annual Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY 2021) awards on December 19^th, which will be broadcast on BBC 1.

Who is the favourite to win this year’s award?

While the official SPOTY 2021 nominations aren’t public knowledge at the time of writing, it is no surprise that tennis sensation Emma Raducanu is being heavily tipped to take home the award. The 19-year-old hit the headlines at Wimbledon when she went on a run to the fourth round before being forced to retire. But she became an instant global star when she won the US Open at Flushing Meadows in New York shortly after.

Read Also: Women In Sports: Female Firsts In Every Sport

With so much happening this year though, she will face fierce competition! Team GB’s Tom Daley is hot on her tail after winning his first gold in Tokyo, while Tyson Fury is also in the running after winning his blockbuster trilogy bout against his old foe Deontay Wilder. Lewis Hamilton is also in with a shot of being named in the top three for the fourth year in a row.

How is the winner decided?

A contingent of 30 British sports journalists was used to determine the nominations. However, after controversy surrounding diversity and an all-male list in 2012, the method was changed and a new panel now comes up with the shortlist by looking at things like sporting achievement and the sportsperson’s impact on society.

The overall winner though is decided by the public. The nominations are usually announced a couple of weeks before the ceremony and telephone and online voting opens on the night once the hosts reveal the lines are now open.

Read Also: Top10 highest-paid female athletes of 2020-21

What other awards are there?

Aside from the main event, there are awards for Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, World Sports Star of the Year, Helen Rollason Award — given for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity — Unsung Hero, Young Unsung Hero, Young Sports Personality of the Year and the Expert Panel Special Award.

Denmark's former national team captain and defender Simon Kjaer has announced his decision to hang up his boots. Kjaer captained Denmark to the semi-finals of the EURO 2020 and also won the Scudetto with AC Milan in the 2021-22 season. 

After a commendable career spent playing for clubs across Germany, Italy, Spain, and beyond; Kjaer announced his retirement on Monday, January 13th, 2025.

🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Simon Kjær has announced his retirement from professional football. ❌🇩🇰

A great defender, a proper bloke and a truly inspirational leader when tragedy struck at EURO 2020 with his Danish teammate Christian Eriksen.

We wish him the best for the future. 💫 pic.twitter.com/n7xrxxwOfV

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) January 13, 2025

In his club career, Simon Kjaer played for Midtjylland, Palermo, Wolfsburg, Roma, Lille, Fenerbahce, Sevilla, Atalanta, and AC Milan. Last summer, the defender parted ways with the Rossoneri and has been without a club since then.

Simon Kjaer: the hero of Denmark in an unnerving EURO 2020 incident 

In June 2021, during the face-off between Denmark and Finland in a crucial group game in the EURO 2020, Denmark's star midfielder Christian Eriksen suddenly collapsed on the field due to a cardiac arrest. 

Kjaer also led his teammates to escort Eriksen off the ground along with the Danish medical personnel. He also offered his consolation to Eriksen's partner, earning appreciation from football fans all over the globe. 

Eriksen was stabilized, and later out of danger. Even after this worrying incident, Kjaer led the Denmark team in an iconic journey to the EURO 2020 semi-finals.

The former Denmark captain and the Danish Medical staff in the EURO 2020 later received the UEFA President’s Award for his “exceptional leadership qualities” following the incident. He said:

I try to lead the team on and off the pitch, in every aspect of life, as footballers, when we’re together. I think it’s one of the biggest privileges I have in my career.

FIFA also awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award to Kjaer along with the medical team.

"Now is truly the right moment to close this chapter": Kjaer

Speaking to TV2 Sport in an interview, Simon Kjaer expressed his thoughts on his decision to retire at the age of 35. 

Now is truly the right moment to close this chapter. This isn’t a decision I made overnight after the summer; I had been contemplating it even before the Euro. Last autumn, I realized that my time at AC Milan was perhaps coming to an end. What would happen next? I didn’t need to announce anything to anyone, other than to myself.

A lot of factors have influenced my future since then. My children, family, the national team, and AC Milan – my dream club. Many things led to this conclusion after the Euro: I had expected something to arise, but first and foremost, I had to make a decision for my family before considering the sporting aspect. I have no regrets. I lack nothing in this regard.

I experienced the final at San Siro, and that experience... I knew perfectly well that this was the end. I didn’t need to inform anyone about it, apart from myself. Looking back, I could have easily made the retirement even more spectacular and taken another, bigger step after Milan. But I didn’t require that. For me, having such a grand farewell wasn’t essential,

World Athletics has earlier announced that athletes should wear shoes with a uniform 20-millimeter sole thickness limit for all events. This rule will come into action on November 1st, 2024, marking a notable change in the actions of the athletes.

This rule has been induced to welcome fairness in the game. However, this has sparked controversies. While many athletes have accepted it, some are still in dilemmas about the rule.

Well, let's look at how the rule will impact the performance. However, for now, let's look at the present thickness.

Current Shoe Sole Thickness Rules in Athletics

Presently, there is no such uniformity of sole thickness. Thickness normally varies according to the events in which the athletes participate.

Suppose, in events where an athlete will have run more than 800 meters, shoes are allowed to have a sole up to 25 mm. However, when it comes to shorter distances, the maximum thickness has been limited to 20 mm.

For field events, including the high jump, athletes have a 20mm limit. But for the triple jump, athletes are allowed to wear shoes with soles up to 25mm.

These rules were implemented in January 2022, based on the technological advancements in shoes. However, from 1st November this year, there will be no distinction in sole thickness in different events.

Point to be noted: the rules for road events like marathons and race walks, which permit a 40mm sole thickness, will remain unchanged.

Why is World Athletics enforcing a 20mm sole limit?

The main motto of World Athletics is to ensure fairness. As a result of this, the federation has decided to apply the rule of a uniform 20mm limit to the sole.

In recent years, advances in shoe technology—particularly with thicker soles and carbon fiber plates—have sparked debates about whether these shoes offer athletes some unfair advantage.

Thus, World Athletics created its own Working Group on Athletic Shoes in 2020. The main task of this group is to analyze the impact of shoe technology on performance. They also draft regulations, ensuring that athletes are focusing more on skills and not technology.

The new rule was announced well in advance to give shoe manufacturers ample time to adapt their designs.

Athletes' Reactions to the 20mm Rule Change

Top athletes have had mixed reactions to the upcoming rule. Joshua Cheptegei, the Olympic and World Champion in the 10,000 meters, supports the change, describing it as "for the benefit of the sport."

He added that the thinner soles won’t necessarily lead to slower times, emphasizing that performance is often influenced by an athlete's mindset. Cheptegei also noted that recent shoe technology has aided recovery between training sessions, which could be impacted by the new regulations.

Meanwhile, Muktar Edris, a former two-time 5,000m World Champion, said that a thicker sole helps the athletes, providing them extra "energy" and "push." A reduced sole may hamper a regular action.

The Controversy Surrounding Shoe Technology

The controversy regarding shoe technology is nothing new. Before 2022, the track spikes had soles with thicknesses up to 30 mm.

During the Tokyo Olympics, legendary sprinter Usain Bolt brought this issue to the public, citing the unfair advantage an athlete may receive due to thicker boots. Not only that, but with the increased use of technologically advanced shoes, world records that looked unbreakable are at stake.

Karsten Warholm, the one who holds the World Record in 400m hurdles, also expressed his concern. After winning the gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics, he questioned the boots of the runner-up, Rai Benjamin.

Warholm made serious claims that Benjamin used thicker Nike soles that provided the later an unfair advantage. Warholm's remarks not only concerned the federation but drew attention to the fine line between technological innovation and "technological doping."

The Impact of Shoe Technology on Performance

Eliud Kipchoge, the first athlete who broke the two-hour marathon barrier in 2019, sparked controversies at his time as well. He used the Nike Alphafly, which featured thick soles and carbon plates. However, the nature of the event didn't let that record count. 

Later, World Athletics introduced a rule. It required the new shoes to be in the open market for at least four months prior to the competition. This rule also aspired to thwart athletes with exclusive shoe deals from gaining an unfair advantage.

Will the 20mm sole limit affect athlete performance?

It is not exactly negative, but the athletes will solely depend on their physical abilities and techniques. Yes, a few athletes do consider this to hurt their performance, but just like Cheptegei mentioned, mental resilience and training will play a crucial role in breaking records or achieving personal bests (PB).

Well, a reduced cushion in the sole will demand more energy from the athlete. Thus, athletes need to adjust their training regimes to adapt to the new rules.

World Athletics had mentioned clearly that they want to promote uniformity. They want the athletes to rely on their power and skills, not some technology beneath their feet, that will change and evolve with time. 

However, with shoe manufacturers rushing to adapt their designs, the real test will come when athletes compete under the new regulations in 2024.

The Paris Olympics 2024 is going to start from July 26, all the countries of the world including India are busy in preparations for these games. The last few Olympic events have seen a steady increase in the number of Indian athletes. This time too, India is already busy in preparations for its Paris 2024 mission.

Read Also: Vinesh Phogat wins Paris Olympics Quota in Women's 50kg category

India won maximum number of medals in Tokyo

Earlier a total of 124 players from India had participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This was by far the largest contingent of Indian players who had participated in the Olympic Games. This team of India also won the maximum number of medals in the Games. It was in this Olympics itself that Neeraj Chopra created history by winning a historic gold medal in the men's javelin throw event.

Also Read: Looking back at India's 7 medals at Tokyo Olympics 2020

Bhowneesh Mendiratta couldn't make it to the final team

This time many new athletes are getting a chance in the Paris Olympics 2024. Trap shooter Bhowneesh Mendiratta secured India's first Paris 2024 quota at the 2022 ISSF World Championships. But Bhowneesh could not make it to the final team after the national trials. After this, Prithviraj Tondaiman was given a quota in the men's trap event.

Shooters secure quotas in every category 

Notably, for the first time, Indian shooters have secured quotas in every Olympic shooting category. Earlier, 15 shooters from India had participated in Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Also Read: India at Olympics: India's medals at the Olympics by sports

Paris 2024 flagbearer

Famous badminton star PV Sindhu will lead the Indian contingent along with famous table tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal during the opening ceremony of the upcoming Paris 2024. However, no name has been announced yet for the closing ceremony, which is expected to be announced later. 

There are 82 quota places from India so far have confirmed for the Paris 2024. Here is the list of players who have qualified for the Games.

Indian athletes who qualified for Paris Olympics 2024

In the realm of Indian sporting history, the Tokyo Olympics 2020 will forever be marked as a unforgettable moment. With a remarkable tally of seven medals, India shattered records and expectations as this was country's best medal haul ever at the Olympics. Some sections of the sporting fraternity were disappointed that India’s medal total did not touch double figures, but the fact is that Tokyo Games saw a stupendous show by the Indian athletes at the highest level. 

Also Read: India at Olympics: India's medals at the Olympics by sports

Since the Paris Olympics 2024 are about to start in a few months (July 26), let's relive some old memories of Tokyo Olympics 2020. 

India's 7 medals at Tokyo Olympics 2020

Neeraj Chopra | Gold

Neeraj Chopra etched his name in history books by clinching India's first-ever Olympic gold in track and field. Neeraj started with a throw of 87.03m and stunned the world by throwing 87.58 meters in his second attempt in the final of the javelin throw event of the Tokyo Olympics 2020. No one came close to the mark set by Neeraj, including the likes of Germany’s Johannes Vetter and Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan. This is India's first Olympic medal in athletics in more than 100 years. Neeraj is also the second Indian player to win an individual gold medal. Earlier, shooter Abhinav Bindra had won the gold medal in men's 10-meter air rifle at the Beijing Olympics 2008.

Also Read: 'I will try to breach the 90m mark before Paris Olympics': Neeraj Chopra aims to retain his Olympic gold in Paris

Mirabai Chanu | Silver

Manipur's Mirabai Chanu registered India's name in the medal tally Tokyo Olympics 2020. She ended a 21-year medal drought in weightlifting by winning a silver medal in the 49 kg category during her four successful attempts across the competition. This 29-year-old player removed the disappointment she faced in the Rio Olympics (2016) by lifting a total weight of 202 kg. Mirabai is also a former world champion and holds the world record in the clean and jerk event in the 49kg category.

Ravi Dahiya | Silver

Ravi Kumar Dahiya, born in Nahari village of Sonepat district of Haryana, proved his strength and technique by winning the silver medal in men's 57 kg freestyle wrestling. He is the only second Indian wrestler, after Sushil Kumar, to win an Olympic silver medal. Dahiya secured his Olympic berth by winning the bronze medal at the 2019 World Championship and then won the Asian Championship in Delhi in 2020 and defended the title in Almaty this year.

PV Sindhu | Bronze

PV Sindhu was already considered a strong medal contender for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and she did not disappoint anyone by winning the bronze medal. This 28-year-old player had earlier won a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. She is the only woman from the country to win multiple medals in the Olympics. Her performance in the Tokyo Games can be gauged from the fact that she had not lost a single game before losing two games against Tai Tzu Ying. The Hyderabadi shuttler made her mark at the international level in 2014 after winning bronze medals at the World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships. 

Also Read: From Abhinav Brinda to PV Sindhu: Every First for India at Olympics

Lovlina Borgohain | Bronze

Lovlina Borgohain of Assam created history by winning a bronze medal in her first Olympics. She is the third Indian to win an Olympic medal in boxing after Vijender Singh (2008) and MC Mary Kom (2012). Before going on a 52-day tour of Europe to prepare for the Olympics, she got infected with Covid 19 but she made a spectacular comeback and defeated former world champion Nien-Chin Chen of Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals of the 69 kg category. The 26-year-old signed off with a bronze medal after a 0-5 loss to reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli.

Bajrang Punia | Bronze

Before these games, Bajrang Punia was also considered the biggest contender for the gold medal in the Tokyo Games. After losing in the semi-finals, he could not fulfill his dream of gold medal due to multiple injuries. Bajrang suffered a knee injury in Russia in a tournament and then also pulled his left hamstring. Despite this, he brought glory to the country by winning the bronze medal. Bajrang beat Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov 8-0 in the 65kg bronze medal bout. With his bronze, Indian wrestlers matched their best performance at the Tokyo Olympics.

Also Read: $50000 per Gold medal winner in Athletics at Paris Olympics

Indian Men's Hockey Team | Bronze

The Indian Men's Hockey Team ended a 41-year drought in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 by winning the bronze medal. Although this medal was not gold, it was enough to make hockey popular again in the country. After losing badly by 1-7 against Australia in the second match of the group stage, the team made a great comeback under the leadership of Manpreet Singh. After defeating Belgium in the semi-finals, the team defeated Germany 5-4 in the bronze medal play-off. This was India's third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two before this were won in the 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games.

Indian athlete Avinash Sable broke his own national record and bettered it to clinch the gold medal at the Indian Grand Prix 2 2022. He set the record bar in the men's 3000m steeplechase at the athletics meet, hosted in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on Wednesday

Read also: Russian Racewalker Elena Lashmanova banned, will be stripped off from Olympic gold medal

Avinash surpassed his past record of 8.18.12 seconds and won the gold medal this time after clocking 8.16.21 seconds. He achieved the record of 8.18.12 in the men's 3000m steeplechase heats at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Indian Grand Prix 2 was his first competition after the Tokyo Olympics. In fact, his time is the fastest this year in men's 3000m steeplechase, that too worldwide.

Read also: Neeraj Chopra: "My next target is winning gold in World Championships"