SIR Roger Bannister, the first man to run a mile in under four minutes, has opened a new exhibition which looks forward to the London Olympics.

Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum is exhibiting 30 bronze sculptures, commissioned by public art organiser Art At The Edge, to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Sir Roger, who lives in Oxford, said it was a huge honour to officially open the exhibition at the Beaumont Street museum.

The sporting legend said he found the artwork – based on South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius who is set to compete in London – particularly impressive.

Oxford sculptor John Buckley, who created the piece Blade-runner, said: “I was delighted to take part.

“The subject for Blade-runner captures the human movement at speed, along with the crippling devastation that land mines inflict on their victims.”

Art At The Edge founder Justin Braithwaite said: “Our selection of sculptures attempts to create a journey through contemporary sculptural styles and explores the artistry in different sporting events, looking forward to the 2012 Olympics.”

Sir Roger ran the first mile in under four minutes on May 6, 1954, at the Iffley Road running track.