Winter Olympians lead awards nominees

BEIJING - The 2010 CCTV Sports Personality of the Year awards were launched on Thursday in the Chinese capital city, with Winter Olympics champions Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo and Wang Meng leading the first-round nominees.

Shen and Zhao claimed the first figure skating gold medal for China, while Wang grabbed three gold medals in women's short track speed skating events.

Regarded as China's "Sports Oscars", the ceremony honors the most outstanding groups or individuals in sports for the year.