BBC bosses are preparing for an ambitious weekend of sport in the build-up to the Sports Personality of the Year Awards at the P&J Live in Aberdeen on Sunday.
The prestigious ceremony, which was launched back in 1954, will be making its north-east debut this weekend.
The show’s executive editor Carl Doran said: “This year is the most ambitious show we have put on to date.
“We’ll have things we have never done before such as a week-long sport relief challenge, where rugby star Gareth Thomas is cycling with the trophy from Cardiff to Aberdeen.”
The former Welsh international will complete the 500-mile Tour de Trophy in seven days in a bid to raise funds for sport relief.
Mr Doran added: “We hope he gets here on time.
“Aberdeen was an easy choice, because when we came up in January, the new facilities blew us away and they are some of the best we have seen in the UK.”
This year’s event is destined to be bigger than ever with the BBC festival of sport also debuting at Aberdeen Sports Village, where people of all ages can participate in a variety of challenges whilst meeting their heroes.
Today’s opening session will be open exclusively to the pupils of Aberdeen’s schools.
But ticket information for the rest of the programme can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/festivals/festival-of-sport-2019.
Those in attendance will be in with a chance of winning tickets to join the star-studded audience and watch Sunday’s sell-out show.
The line-up includes a Q&A with Aberdeen’s own football legend Denis Law and decorated Paralympian Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson.
Both of these will be hosted by presenters Gabby Logan and Clare Balding.
Elsewhere, World Cup winner Eoin Morgan will host a cricket masterclass while Steve Cram and Allison Curbishley will share their commentary experiences.
Head of production for BBC sport, Debbie Dubois added: “We want to leave a legacy of sport here in Aberdeen, we want people to be inspired.
“This is going to be a great opportunity for people to get involved and have a go.”
It is the first time the awards have been held in Scotland since 2014 and the proceedings will also feature the musical talent of Lewis Capaldi and Emeli Sande.
