I agree, I have no gripe over any of the sports men or women's achievements , I applaud there efforts. Is it there achievements that are being honoured or there personality however perceived.
Just Googled personality, personality focuses on two broad areas: One is understanding individual differences in particular personality characteristics, such as sociability or irritability. Perhaps it's these two points I mean Pete. Many of our top sports people lack sociability and have irritability in abundance.
Maybe the should rename it "Sports Celebrity of the Year" ? Then they could get Ant & Dec to host it - the ratings would go up massively...
Sounds as if "personality" means something like "charm". The complaint is that winners of the sports personality of the year contest are insufficiently charming. Sports winners are often brusque, boring, inarticulate, or self-obsessed; they are not charming people. Does that mean they thereby lack "personality"?
I agree it should be called achievement of the year, not personality. Although I'm not a fan of giving honorary degrees to celbs, or knight hoods etc.. The money that is involved with certain types of sport, the expectation, it's hardly surprising they are not allowed to be real people, no matter what they do or say it will upset someone. Being good at what they do and doing what they are told is the best we can hope for. Who knows if they are a holes. I suspect most of them are when things are not going their way. It's hard to be very good at something but not be passionate about it.
@Ducbird A special award was made to a young disabled boy who regularly competes in many sports, his name is Bailey Sports Personality - BBC Sport
