The BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award (SPOTY) is the main award of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony, which takes place each December.

The 2021 event is being held over the current weekend, December 19.

The winner is the sportsperson, judged by a public vote (from a pre-determined shortlist), to have achieved the most that year.
The recipient must either be British or reside and play a significant amount of their sport in the United Kingdom.

The event is broadcast on BBC One and has become a staple for sports fans.
It’s a look back at the sporting year that was along with the protagonists for the main SPOTY award.

It is fair to say that mainstream sports including football, cricket, both codes of rugby, tennis and F1 take the majority of the airtime.
Other sports only generally receive a look-in in the year of Olympic games when Great Britain has enjoyed success. Athletes have won the SPOTY award 18 times.

SPOTY is generally considered a popularity contest with the general public voting for their favourite candidate rather than which sportsperson has achieved more in their field.

At the core value, it’s an award for excellence in sporting achievement.

That is why I believe Liam Kirk should have at least been considered on a long list for this year’s award.

No longer was his story buried in the niche media of the UK or Canadian junior hockey.

For one, he performed on the biggest stage of his career at the international level.

1) Kirk finished as the joint-leading scorer at the 2021 World Championships. A feat never accomplished by a Great Britain player.

2) Kirk led GB to a historic victory against Belarus and the nation took a point against Denmark.

3) Great Britain avoided relegation (had it been in effect) and achieved the highest ever placing in modern times.

4) Kirk became the first English-born and trained player to sign an NHL Entry-Level contract.

At this time last year, Kirk was forced to play in the Swedish third tier to get any ice-time under his legs.

He achieved all his success at the World Championships without a full season of professional hockey behind him, at the tender age of 21.

Kirk has torn up the rulebook of what is possible for a young, British hockey player.

The lack of success at the Winter Olympics means SPOTY and the general public are predisposed to pay little to no attention to winter sports in general.

Even Eddie ‘the eagle’ Edwards wasn’t placed in SPOTY after his performance at the 1988 Winter Olympics when he became a much-loved figure by the British public.

The only winter sport to figure in SPOTY during its 67-year history has been figure skating, which has had three winners and a second placing.

This year’s shortlist of candidates comprises diver Tom Daley, boxer Tyson Fury, swimmer Adam Peaty, tennis player Emma Raducanu, footballer Raheem Sterling and Paralympic cyclist Dame Sarah Storey.

I could argue without showing any bias that at least what two of those aforementioned sportspeople have achieved in 2021 doesn’t surpass Liam Kirk.
The reality is minor sports in the UK are overlooked 99% of the time when it comes to SPOTY.

In a shortlist of ten, would Liam Kirk have made the cut?
Again probably not, but he should have been given consideration, which is the frustrating aspect.

Kirk has produced “excellence in sporting achievement” and made history for himself and the country through 2021, mainly against the odds.

His story of being an underdog would surely be one the general public would love if it were explained to them in layman’s terms.

Liam Kirk would be an easy sell to the British public.

A humble and affable character, who has worked hard for everything he’s achieved in his career to date.

The sport of ice hockey in the UK would receive a massive boost if his achievements this year were to be recognised as a candidate or even mentioned in the yearly review.

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