Olympic icon Sir Chris Hoy has been offered the chance to present the Ballon d’Art trophy at Ally Pally in an emotional appearance after revealing his diagnosis with terminal prostate cancer.

The six-time Olympic gold medal winner has been extended an invitation by Paddy Power and Prostate Cancer UK, a charity associated with the Professional Darts Corporation.

The supremely accomplished cyclist has been invited to present the award to the darts player who notches the most 180s in the World Darts Championship. Last year, defender Luke Humphries clinched the inaugural trophy with a striking 73 out of a record 914 total 180s.

Hoy faces a hero's welcome during the final on January 3, where audiences will undoubtedly salute his courage and resilience.

A battle with cancer that began with discovering a tumour in his shoulder soon became a grim diagnosis when tests uncovered a primary prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.

Determined to inspire action, Hoy champions a quick online risk checker, aiming for 180,000 men to get screened over the tournament's duration.

The 48-year-old cycling legend, recently back from a Cambodian charity ride, expressed: "This isn’t about medals or records. It’s about saving lives.

"If sharing my story gets just one person to check their risk or book a screening, then it’s all been worth it. I didn’t have any symptoms until it was too late.

"By the time I felt pain, it wasn’t in my prostate anymore – it was secondary cancer in my bones. If I’d thought to check earlier, maybe I’d have caught it in time.

"That’s why this campaign is so important – so others don’t end up in the same situation. Sport is where men connect, laugh, and bond. It’s also the perfect place to deliver an important message: Don’t wait, act now.

"If we can get blokes talking about their health at Ally Pally, between pints and 180s, then we’ve already won."

Bookies Paddy Power have pledged to donate £1,000 to Prostate Cancer UK for every 180 scored.

And for each nine-darter at the tournament, there will be a massive £180,000 payout split three ways - £60,000 each to the player, Prostate cancer and a fan randomly selected from the audience.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the UK, with one in eight destined to be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime.