PEOPLE across the county were last night urged to make the most of “the gift of the Olympics” by running legend Sir Roger Bannister.

Sir Roger was speaking at the launch of a new initiative by Oxfordshire 2012, which aims to ensure the county benefits from the Olympic Games in London.

He was joined by local Olympic hopefuls at the Iffley Road Sports Ground, where he made history by running the first sub-four minute mile in 1954.

Sir Roger said the games should leave a lasting legacy for Oxfordshire, extending far beyond sport to provide educational and tourism opportunities.

He said: “There is a great opportunity for local sports facilities to be improved. We are offering Oxford as a site for competitors who want to come for pre-Olympic training.

“While there will be those hoping to compete in the games from Oxfordshire, individuals can volunteer to become helpers, giving them perhaps a life-long link with the Olympic movement, and an understanding of its ethos.”

Oxfordshire 2012 will look to involve young people in the Olympics as volunteers, organise local events and boost tourism.

Sir Roger said he hoped the games would spark a new enthusiasm for creating new sports facilities in the county, particularly for young people. But the news came as campaigners were delivering a petition to Downing Street, urging David Cameron to reverse a decision to axe funding for the School Sports Partnerships.

Oxfordshire youngsters have been prominent in the campaign to save the partnership, which oversees the district’s 18,500 children in 56 schools, and runs teachers’ training, sports activities and competitions for ages five to 19.

However, Sir Roger said there were grounds for hope the Government was ready to change its mind.

He said: “It is well known sports facilities in schools have to compete with science labs and computer centres and things geared towards getting better GCSE and academic results. We have heard the Government is thinking of withdrawing grants of £165m for School Sports Partnerships, that was ringfenced. But this is already being reconsidered.”

Oxfordshire 2012 is backed by Oxford Inspires, Oxfordshire Sports Partnership, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford University, Oxford City Council and Thames Valley Police.

Jon Roycroft, director of Oxford University Sport, said: “The Iffley Road sports complex is on the list of approved training sites for Olympics. We can offer facilities for track events and hockey teams.”

Details of what Oxford has to offer is now being circulated to countries taking part.

Mr Roycroft said there had been preliminary discussions with nothing yet settled on which countries will be coming to Oxford.

Kathelene Weiss, director of Oxford Inspires, said: “The new website will show how people can get involved. It will encourage local business, education and sports communities to engage in projects.”

Andy Gardiner, the former greengrocer who broke into the Great Britain Disability Shooting squad, said: “Oxford has such a wide range of sporting talent. 2012is a great showcase for this.

“We’ve got such rich history. Roger rewrote the rule book here in 1954, it would be great if a British athlete could repeat that.”