Chelsea hero ready to light up Swindon (From Swindon Advertiser)

Chelsea hero ready to light up Swindon

11:50am Tuesday 22nd May 2012 in News By Scott D'Arcy

CHELSEA star Didier Drogba has been named as the celebrity who will carry the Olympic Torch through part of the town.

The 34-year-old, who scored the equaliser and the winning penalty against Bayern Munich in Saturday’s Champions League final, will be picked up at Lime Kiln, in Royal Wootton Bassett, and transferred to Swindon.

The Olympic Torch is set to reach Wharf Green at 1.35pm tomorrow, where it is expected to be greeted by thousands of people.

It has not yet been confirmed where or when the talismanic striker will be taking part in the relay, but it will cap a busy few days for the Ivory Coast international, after an open-top bus tour through London and being seen partying with Rihanna at Boujis nightclub.

Chief executive of Swindon Council, Gavin Jones, said: “It’s brilliant news – it will add an extra bit of zest.

“I’m not a Chelsea fan, I’m a Swindon fan, but he’s a fantastic name and will have a great profile so hot off the back of winning the Champions League.”

On being nominated by Samsung, with who he is partnered, to carry the torch, Drogba said: “It is a great honour to be recognised for the work I do off the pitch, in local London communities or campaigning to improve the lives of children in Africa.

“It has always been my goal to change things for the better. The Olympic Torch Relay celebrates just a handful of the many extraordinary people who put others’ needs before their own on a daily basis and this is what I’ll be celebrating.”

Self-confessed Blues fan Charlie Skillen, of Broad Hinton, who is a member of Swindon’s Chelsea Supporters’ Club, said he was excited by the news.

The 22-year-old said: “I will be bringing all the Chelsea fans I know and my granddad will be coming with me too.

“He’s one of my heroes and it would be great to see him in Swindon.

“I missed the parade in London because we were still in Munich after the final, so this will be a replacement for that.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman confirmed Drogba would be dropped at Lime Kiln tomorrow before his run in Swindon.