Gaby Logan and Clare Balding's anger against all male Sports Personality shortlist

What about the women? Gaby Logan and Clare Balding's anger against all male Sports Personality shortlist

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 6:25 PM on 29th November 2011


The BBC is facing a backlash after women were ignored for the Sports Personality of the Year award.

Even presenters who work for the broadcaster were critical.

Gabby Logan tweeted: 'I can't think of anything to say about there being NO women on #SPOTY top 10 list that is positive so I won't say anything.' She then added the damning hashtag: '#backward.'

Expressing their anger: BBC presenters Gaby Logan and Clare Balding took to twitter to protest against the list of nominees

Fellow presenter Clare Balding was also angry, but pointed out that the way the voting procedure works means that the BBC is not responsible for the list of nominees.

The BBC compiles the shortlist after UK newspapers and magazines submit their top 10 selections.

Balding tweeted: 'If you feel strongly about the all-male SPOTY list, it might be worth making the point to the sports editor of the paper you read.'


The deluge protesting tweets has forced the BBC to reveal that one woman, Rebecca Adlington, was just a single vote short of making the list of nominees.

However, that did not stop Adlington and her fellow sportswomen from also lining up to criticise the decision to snub females.

On Twitter, Adlington wrote: 'There's been some great sportswomen like Keri-Anne Payne, it's sad they are not recognised.

Missing out: Keri-Anne Payne was the first British athlete to qualify for the Olympics - but that did not earn her a Sports Personality of the Year nomination

'Hopefully next year can be all women nominations after London 2012!!!!'

Both women won gold at the swimming world championships in Shanghai this year.

Payne added to the BBC's woes tweeting: 'It is a shame there are no women on the #SPOTY list but good luck to the boys tho!'

Out of the running: Zara Phillips was the last woman to win the SPOTY in 2006, but Rebecca Adlington missed out on a nomination this year by just one point

AND THE NOMINEES ARE...

• Mark Cavendish - Cycling (Odds 6-5)
  
• Darren Clarke - Golf (Odds 7-4)
  
• Rory McIlroy - Golf (Odds 7-1)
  
• Mo Farrah - Athlete (Odds 8-1)
  
• Luke Donald - Golf (Odds 20-1)
  
• Alistair Cook - Cricket (Odds 50-1)
  
• Dai Greene - Athlete (Odds 50-1)
  
• Andy Murray - Tennis (Odds 100-1)
  
• Amir Khan - Boxing (Odds 100-1)
  
• Andrew Strauss - Cricket (Odds 100-1)

Chrissie Wellington, who landed her fourth Ironman world championship title last month, was another who criticised the list.

She wrote on Twitter: 'No women in @bbcspoty top ten. It's not about me, it's about the need to celebrate achievements of so many female GBR athletes. Disgraceful.'

Eleven-time Paralympic gold medal winner Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson came third in the race for the prize in 2000.

She was also disappointed by the list of nominees.

Tanni told BBC Wales: 'I think you just look at where the nominations have come from and that highlights another problem really - only 2 per cent of media coverage in sport goes to women.

'Women just aren't on the minds, whether it's editors or in some case producers, it's just not there ... you're fighting against the system all the time where it's the big sports all the time that get the recognition.'

The last female winner of the big prize was Zara Phillips in 2006 after claiming gold at the World Equestrian Games.

Jessica Ennis came third in the competition in both 2009 and 2010.

Disgusted: Chrissie Wellington, who landed her fourth Ironman world championship title last month, also criticised the list

London 2012 chief Lord Coe - who knows a lot of the young women athletes very well - expressed his disappointment over the nominations, saying: 'I find it slightly surprising that there is not a woman on that shortlist.

'We have had Rebecca Adlington winning a world title in the world swimming championships, we have had other women world champions this year too.

'This has also been a year where two women have won silver medals at the athletics world championships, Hannah England and Jessica Ennis, and it is one of the toughest championships in which to win a medal so I am surprised.'

Those who did make it: Rory McIlroy with his US open trophy and Andy Murray in action both are nominees for the 2011 prize

Cyclist Mark Cavendish and golf major winners Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy lead the nominations for the 2011 gong.

Andy Murray also made it onto the list.

Cavendish became the first British winner of the green jersey in the Tour de France after five stage victories, and was also crowned road race world champion in Denmark.

Clarke, now 43, won his first major title at the age of 42. While his compatriot, Rory McIlroy, secured a record-breaking eight-shot triumph in the US Open.

The winner will be announced in a live event at MediaCityUK, Salford on December 22.


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