The annual blue chip bash, bankrolled by multi-million dollar international  sponsorship, descends on London in Olympic year, giving sport the Hollywood treatment it has hitherto enjoyed in Monaco, Estoril, St Petersburg and last year Abu Dhabi.

Central Hall will be awash with superstars but no Britons need have their "I love you mum" speeches prepared for either of the two principal gongs, World Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year.

Even BBC Sports Personality winner Mark Cavendish has failed to make the shortlist, though Open golf winner Darren Clark is a contender for Comeback of The Year and fellow Ulsterman Rory McIlroy for Breakthrough of the Year, together with athlete Mo Farah.

The England cricket team, who became world number one after their Ashes win in Australia and their 4-0 victory over India in the summer, have been nominated for the World Team of the Year Award.

They are up against the All Blacks, winners of the Rugby World Cup, Champions League winners FC Barcelona and Formula One team Red Bull.

Just as well they were nominated well before the current debacle in Abu Dhabi.

Another British athlete, wheelchair racer David Weir, who will be focusing on the Paralympic Games in London this summer, has been shortlisted for the World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award, after winning three gold medals in the IPC World Championships in New Zealand.

And BMX star Jamie Bestwick, who courageously came back from a fractured skull to win his fifth straight X Games gold, is nominated for the second successive year for the Action Sports Award.

One of Monday night's biggest winners could be Blade Runner Oscar Pistorius who is in the running for two awards, in the Breakthrough and Disability categories.

Proceeds from these awards benefit and underpin the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which supports 91 community sports projects around the world. Since its inception, Laureus has raised over €40 million (£33 million/$53 million) for projects which have improved the lives of more than one-and-a-half million young people.

The great and the good attending the big bash range from motor cycling champion Giacomo Agostini to former Olympic skating gold medalist now Dancing on Ice judge Katarina Witt.

But one name missing from the lengthy VIP list is leading Laureus Academy member Sebastian Coe, whom is said to be travelling on London 2012 business.

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