By SUZANNE McFADDEN
The sparkle will be blinding. New Zealand's greatest sports stars will cluster in one huge glass tent in Auckland tonight to find out who is the sports champion of the century.
Every living sportsperson of the year since 1949 will be there - bar one.
Equestrian gold medallist Mark Todd could not make the trip from England, after having to attend a dinner for being the world's No 1 rider.
Among the stars who have returned from all corners of the planet are athlete Peter Snell and sailor Chris Bouzaid from the United States, All Black Don Clarke from South Africa and motorcyclist Ivan Mauger from Australia.
Special guests have been flown in to receive awards for past decade winners who are no longer alive.
Mary Lovelock, the daughter of 1936 Olympic gold medallist Jack Lovelock, has come from New York to represent the legendary 1500m runner, who has been named sports champion of the 1930s.
The 1905 All Blacks will be represented by the great-great-grandsons of fullback Dave Gallagher.
Each of the decade winners is a candidate for the grand honour tonight, champion of the century.
The first awards made will be for the 1999 sportsman, woman and team of the year - the overall winner going into the pool for champion of the 90s.
Among the candidates for the last decade are Sir Peter Blake and Team New Zealand, double Olympic swimming champion Danyon Loader and two-time world rowing champion Rob Waddell.
The 1990s winner will then be considered for the big award.
The ultimate athlete of the century will receive a greenstone carving commissioned for the honour. The decade champions will be given silver replicas.
The lavish ceremony will be held in a special tent imported from Europe and erected below the steps of the Auckland Museum - site of last weekend's America's Cup ball.
The finalists for Sports Champion of the Century are
1900s - the 1905 All Blacks.
1910s - Anthony Wilding
1920s - George Nepia
1930s - Jack Lovelock
1940s - Bert Sutcliffe
1950s - Yvette Williams
1960s - Peter Snell
1970s - John Walker
1980s - Sir Richard Hadlee
1990s - to be named
Stars of decades ready to shine
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