THERE’S now less than a week to go before the third annual South Wales Argus Sports Awards, when 14 prizes will be dished out during a special online broadcast.

Television and radio host Jason Mohammad has the task of announcing the winners on Thursday, with the ceremony available to watch on the South Wales Argus Facebook page from 7pm.

Running for around an hour, the event will culminate in the crowning of the 2020 sports personality of the year.

The coronavirus pandemic forced the organisers to the change the way they approached this year’s awards.

And while things won’t be the same as 2018 and 2019 in terms of the staging, the achievements of the finalists are expected to be as inspiring as ever.

Among those in contention for awards are UFC star Jack Shore, darts champion Gerwyn Price and Great Britain hockey ace Jacob Draper, who are vying for the professional sports personality title.

Valleys Gymnastics Academy supremo Melissa Anderson will be bidding for successive outstanding services to sport in Gwent prizes.

South Wales Argus:

She goes up against Cwmbran Youth Netball Club’s Vicki Randall – one of five finalists for the Torfaen outfit – and Mike ‘Puffa’ Jones, whose Free Bikes 4 Kids initiative has made a big impact.

World amateur boxing champion Lauren Price, former Pontypool and Cross Keys back-row forward Rob Nash and Torfaen Warriors ABC head coach Simon Weaver contest the grassroots gong.

Like Anderson, Angus Rogers of Heads of the Valleys Tang Soo Do looks to win back-to-back awards, with his coach of the year crown coming under threat from Weaver and gymnastics’ Holly McKenna.

Don’t worry if you can’t watch the ceremony on the night, the video will remain available to view on the Facebook page afterwards.

Ideally, watch it in the same place as friends and colleagues – as long as you can observe the coronavirus rules on social gatherings.

If you are watching alone at home then bookmark the Facebook page (facebook.com/southwalesargus) in advance so you are ready for the show before it starts.

A notification of the event will become visible before the ceremony itself, which means you can click on it to indicate your interest.

Facebook will then send you a reminder when the event is close to starting. You can view the show on a PC, laptop, tablet or mobile phone. Some TVs also give you access to Facebook.

The event will be streamed in a Facebook post that you can share with friends.

You won’t be able to watch the awards on Twitter and Instagram, but you can certainly post messages of support and share your celebrations.