MULTI-talented sports stars can switch from winning points at volleyball to netting hoops in basketball with the click of a button after a new sports centre was completed.

Oxford University’s Iffley Road sports ground, made famous as the site of Sir Roger Bannister’s four minute mile, unveiled its state-of-the-art new facilities this weekend.

The highlight of the £9m centre, named after Olympic rower Acer Nethercott, is a new ‘smart floor’ which allows line markings to be changed to suit whichever sport is being played.

Hundreds of bulbs embedded in the glass floor can light up allowing users to select only floor markings for their sport.

Jon Roycroft, the director of sport for Oxford University, said it would end the ‘spaghetti junction’ feel of regular sports halls where dozens of confusing lines intersect with one another.

The hall will be available to rent by local clubs for tournaments and events, especially outside of term time when it will be less well-used by the university’s more than 50 clubs.

Sports including volleyball, basketball, badminton and netball can all be played interchangeably in the same 699sq m space.

The centre at Iffley Road has become only the second location in the UK to install a smart floor and the first to actually have sports played on it – with the only other equivalent in the BT Sports TV studio.

Mr Roycroft said: “The technology underneath the floor is quite complicated but it’s as easy as pushing a button and it all changes.

“The new centre doubles the space available for our clubs which is really revolutionary for us.

“There is a real dearth of sports halls in the city and space was at a premium before.

“This will be a great boost for participation in sport and the success of our clubs.”

The opening comes after city council-run leisure centres saw a drop in visits by almost 350,000 last year, with people favouring budget gyms and free activities such as park runs.

Some 600 members of public use the Iffley Road facilities along with thousands of staff and students at the university.

Further phases of redevelopment are planned including a new grandstand and a rugby and rowing training centre.

Daniel Thomson of Oxford University's basketball club, said: “This is something we have needed for a while. I think it will make a big difference both in improving the team and getting more people involved in the sport.”