THE COUNTDOWN is on to this year's Laureus World Sports Awards, which are being held at Central Hall, Westminster, on Monday 6 February.

These are the most prestigious sports awards in the world because the winners are chosen by the 47 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, which includes UK sports stars of the stature of Sir Ian Botham, Sir Bobby Charlton, Lord Sebastian Coe, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Sir Steve Redgrave and Daley Thompson. Over the next few weeks, City A.M. will be looking ahead to this exciting event and profiling the Nominees in each of the seven categories.

Today we start with the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award. Over the last few years, American surfer Kelly Slater has made this virtually his own, winning in 2007, 2009 and 2011. And, after winning his 11th World Surfing Championship in 2011 at the age of 39, Slater could possibly win his fourth Laureus Award – a feat only achieved previously by tennis ace Roger Federer.

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS

FANCY rubbing shoulders with the very biggest names from the world of sport at next month’s glitzy ceremony in London? Of course you do. Well you’re in luck, because City A.M. has a pair of tickets to the Laureus World Sports Awards at Central Hall, Westminster, on 6 February, and the exclusive aftershow party to give away to a lucky reader. Just keep watching these pages for full details of how to win this money-can’t-buy prize in the coming weeks.