Horse racing legend AP McCoy with the Sports Personality of the Year trophy

THE BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015 is coming to Belfast, the corporation has announced.

It will come live from the Odyssey Arena on Sunday 20 December, in front of an estimated 8,000 audience.

It is being seen as a major coup for Belfast and Northern Ireland in being able to secure the top rate show.

And former winner AP McCoy and golfer Rory McIlroy could be in the running this year to pick up the coveted trophy.

Belfast City Council and Tourism NI are supporting the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony coming to Belfast.

Lord Mayor Arder Carson said: “This is a great coup for our city and further enhances our reputation as a great venue for high quality, high profile events.

“Belfast, as it always does, will roll out the welcome mat – and we look forward to the positive outcomes this will undoubtedly bring”.

World golf number one and runner-up for Sports Personality of the Year 2014 Rory McIlroy says: “I think Belfast has shown over the past few years that it can hold massive events like the this.

“We have the facilities like the Odyssey Arena which hosted the MTV music awards. I think it will be huge, Belfast has been crying out for events like this, and in the years since the Millennium, Belfast has grown into a really vibrant city.”