Belfast’s Odyssey Arena to host BBC Sports Personality of the Year

The BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year show will take place in Belfast for the first time later this year, it has been announced.

Golf's world No 1 Rory McIlroy, runner-up to Lewis Hamilton in 2014, has welcomed the announcement saying: "Belfast has shown over the past few years that it can hold massive events like the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. I think it will be huge, Belfast has been crying out for events like this."

The event on Sunday December 20th will take place at The Odyssey Arena, which seats an audience of 8,000.

Northern Ireland’s most likely winner is McIlroy, who finished second to Formula One world champion Hamilton in last year’s awards despite winning back-to-back Major tournaments.