ABHIJEET at the sports personality awards

SET Sports Personality of the Year awards

Televisionpoint.com Team
On February 4, 2006, London will see the return of the annual Sony Entertainment Television Sports Personality of the Year Awards, which will take place at the London Hilton Hotel, Park Lane. Celebrating its fifth year, the Sony Entertainment Television Sports Personality of the Year Awards prides itself on recognising and celebrating the substantial achievements of British Asian sporting talents from across the United Kingdom. As well as honouring professional British Asian sportspersons, the event has emerged as a unique institution for raising the profile of talented amateur and semi-professional South Asians involved in sport, who may not previously have received the recognition that their efforts have deserved.

Sony Entertainment Television conceived of the event following suggestions and comments from the channel's viewers who expressed a concern over the lack of recognition Asian sportsmen and sportswomen were receiving in the UK. The lack of ethnic diversity in the sporting fraternity has been a hot topic of debate for decades with the Sony Entertainment Television Sports Personality of the Year Awards remaining a unique forum to praise unsung heroes within the sporting arena.

Over 800 VIPS, including a glitterati of sporting icons, industry figures and Alist celebrities will attend the Sony Entertainment Television Sports Personality of the Year Awards. Previous ceremonies have been supported by some of the biggest names in sport including England and Spurs striker Jermain Defoe, Ashes hero Kevin Pieterson, Indian cricket star Kapil Dev, English batting sensation Mike Gatting, former England and West Ham footballer Sir Trevor Brooking, rugby brothers Henry & Robbie Paul and Olympic-winning boxer Amir Khan. Past attendees and performers have also included Footballer's Wives' Laila Rouass, actor Robert Powell, Girls Aloud, Jamelia, and Rishi Rich Project.

This year's entertainment line up promises some spectacular performances from chart toppers Westlife, highly acclaimed singer Lee Ryan, the legendary Alexander O'Neal, world renowned Maxi Priest, Indian Idol winner Abhijeet Sawant, young starlet Kiesha White and pop sensation Raghav. The ceremony will be hosted by leading actor and star of Bride & Prejudice and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Nitin Ganatra. The highlight of the gala evening will be the announcement of 11 awards which include, Sunrise Radio Young Sports Personality of the Year (under 10), the Cobra Beer Outstanding Achievement Award and the most coveted award, the Sony Entertainment Television Sports Personality of the Year.

This year's HSBC Lifetime Acheivement Award will be presented to cricket star Nasser Hussain, former England captain. Rajan Singh, Executive Vice President of International Business for Sony Entertainment Television Asia stated, "This year we are delighted to not only celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Sony Entertainment Television Sports Personality of the Year Awards, but more significantly pay homage to the increasing recognition of sporting talents amongst the UK and international Asian communities. The support we have received from the public and the sporting world in general has gone from strength to strength over the years, we are looking forward to what will undoubtedly again be a fantastic evening."

This year's Sony Entertainment Television Sports Personality of the Year Awards has seen hundreds of entrants. Thousands of the UK public are anticipated to cast their votes for their sporting favourites. The Daily Telegraph is this year's Media Partner for the event. Proceeds from the auction at the event will be donated to The Prince's Trust, which is this year's benefiting charity.

The Sports Personality of the Year Awards first took place in 2001, following suggestions and comments from Sony Entertainment Television's viewers who expressed a concern over the lack of recognition Asian sportsman and sportswomen were receiving in the UK. The event was conceived to address this issue and to raise the profile of South Asian sporting talent in the UK and to function as a springboard for entrants to achieve the recognition which they deserve. The event is viewed by millions of Sony Entertainment Television viewers across the globe, and receives unrivalled attention from the world's media.