Click the link to hear BBC WM's Phil Upton speaks to Paul Thandi - the NEC Group's chief executive, Carl Doran - Sports Personality editor and 1962 Sports Personality winner Anita Lonsborough. Attended by 500 top sporting stars from around the world, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards will be held at Birmingham NEC on Sunday 10th December, and will be broadcast live on BBC ONE.
 | | Kelly Holmes, 2004 winner |
Limited space available inside BBC TV Centre in London has meant that it has not been possible to mount a major event for the general public as well as the sportsmen and women who attend the annual ceremony. However, the move to the NEC will allow greater public access. For the first time ever members of the general public will be able to enjoy the unique Sports Personality of the Year Awards event. Tickets At least 3000 public tickets will go on sale from the NEC box office at 9am on Monday 16 October priced at £25 per ticket. No profits will be made from these tickets with all money going towards the cost of staging the event. The box office number for tickets is 0870 730 0142. A permanent move to Birmingham?
 | | David Beckham, 2001 winner |
Speaking on BBC WM's Breakfast Show, Paul Thandi, the NEC Group's chief executive, said that "we're talking to the BBC" about whether the NEC will be venue for the show in future years. "I'm thrilled for us as a business and as a city. I've no doubt that the tickets will sell out very, very quickly." said Paul. Carl Doran, BBC Sports Personality editor, said that he was proud that Birmingham would host the show as it has "a superb sporting pedigree". Carl Doran: "BBC Sports Personality of the Year is the most popular and respected sports programme on television. And we've always wanted the public to enjoy it but we've just not had the room. Five hundred sports stars from all over the world come each year, so we've been looking for a bigger venue." "Last year Pele came over from Brazil for the show and I was really disappointed that more people were not there to experience that.
 | | Paula Radcliffe, 2002 winner |
"I think it will just be an amazing night." "I think that the intention is that [the show will come back to Birmingham] next year, but we have to see how things go this year." Past winners of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award include Steve Redgrave, David Beckham, Paula Radcliffe, Jonny Wilkinson, Kelly Holmes and Andrew Flintoff. Programme and voting details will be announced nearer the time. Sports Unsung Hero of 2006 The BBC is once again on the look out for Birmingham's unsung sporting heroes, people who give their time and energy to make a difference to local sport. The regional Unsung Heroes will then be invited to the BBC Sports Personality of the Year programme on Sunday 10th December 2006 where an overall winner will be announced. Great news for Birmingham? Have your say! Use the comment box, below, to have your say. | 
