Sport Newes Center’s Personality of the Year 2023 Gala
Location: MediaCityUK, Salford When: Tuesday, 19 December at 19:00 GMT Broadcasting: Live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and Sport Newes Center’s website and app
The Sport Newes Center invites sports enthusiasts to vote for the World Sport Star of the Year 2023. This prestigious accolade, previously secured by Argentine soccer icon Lionel Messi in 2022, is now up for grabs among six stellar athletes.
Voting is accessible until 22:00 GMT on Tuesday, 12 December, with the winner being announced live on BBC One during the gala on 19 December. Remember, each BBC account holder is eligible for a single vote.
To cast your vote, visit the voting section. For BBC News app users, please click here to access the voting platform.
Log in or Register to cast your vote
Meet the World Sport Star Nominees:
Simone Biles
Discipline: Gymnastics Nationality: USA
After a two-year hiatus focusing on mental health, Simone Biles, a four-time Olympic champion, made a triumphant return by clinching four golds and a silver at the World Championships in October. Her all-around gold propelled her to become the most decorated gymnast ever, with a total of 37 Olympic and World Championship medals, eclipsing Vitaly Scherbo’s record of 33. At 26, Biles also secured her eighth US Gymnastics all-around title, breaking Alfred Jochim’s 90-year record.
Discipline: Football Nationality: Spain
Aitana Bonmati, a 25-year-old midfield maestro, had an outstanding year with Barcelona and the Spanish national team. She played a pivotal role in Spain’s maiden Women’s World Cup triumph, scoring thrice in the tournament. Her club successes include winning the 2022-23 Liga F and the Champions League. Bonmati was honored as Uefa’s Player of the Year and lifted the Ballon d’Or in October.
Novak Djokovic
Discipline: Tennis Nationality: Serbia
Novak Djokovic continued his tennis supremacy by clinching his 10th Australian Open and a historic 23rd major title at the French Open, making him the first man to win each Grand Slam thrice. The 36-year-old equalled Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles with his US Open victory. Djokovic also broke records with his seventh ATP Finals win and surpassed Steffi Graf’s record of most weeks as world number one, now exceeding 400 weeks.
Discipline: Football Nationality: Norway
Erling Haaland, at 23, was instrumental in Manchester City’s Treble win (Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup) in the 2022-23 season. He earned the Premier League’s Golden Boot with a record 36 goals in 38 matches and scored a record 52 goals in all competitions. Haaland received the Gerd Muller Trophy at the Ballon d’Or awards and was the runner-up for best player. In November, he became the fastest to net 50 Premier League goals, achieving this in just 48 games.
Siya Kolisi
Discipline: Rugby Union Nationality: South Africa
Captaining South Africa, Siya Kolisi led the team to their fourth Rugby World Cup title with a narrow 12-11 victory over New Zealand in October. Kolisi, 32, is the second captain to win back-to-back World Cups after All Blacks’ Richie McCaw. The Springboks’ first black captain made his comeback during the World Cup warm-up following a severe knee injury in April.
Max Verstappen
Discipline: Formula 1 Nationality: Netherlands
Max Verstappen, a three-time Formula 1 world champion, had a record-setting season, clinching the title with six races to spare. The 26-year-old Dutch driver achieved 19 wins in 22 races, a win rate of 86.4%, surpassing Alberto Ascari’s 75%. Verstappen also set records for leading over 1,000 laps in a season, amassing the highest points total ever (575), and achieving the largest winning margin in a drivers’ championship, finishing 290 points ahead of teammate Sergio Perez.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about BBC World Sport Star 2023
When is the voting for the BBC World Sport Star 2023 award closing?
Voting remains open until 22:00 GMT on Tuesday, 12 December.
Where can I watch the BBC World Sport Star 2023 award ceremony?
The ceremony will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and the Sport Newes Center website and app on Tuesday, 19 December at 19:00 GMT.
How many times can I vote for the BBC World Sport Star 2023 award?
Each BBC account holder is allowed to vote once.
Who are the nominees for the BBC World Sport Star 2023 award?
The nominees are Simone Biles (Gymnastics, USA), Aitana Bonmati (Football, Spain), Novak Djokovic (Tennis, Serbia), Erling Haaland (Football, Norway), Siya Kolisi (Rugby Union, South Africa), and Max Verstappen (Formula 1, Netherlands).
How can I vote if I am using the BBC News app?
If you are viewing on the BBC News app, please head to the designated voting section provided in the app to cast your vote.
