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Tenth Anniversary of the 4-minute mile: Interview with Roger Bannister; ** DIGITISED VERSION OF FS060564006 ** ENGLAND: London INT Roger Bannister (Doctor / Former Athlete) interview SOT - Q: What he thought the new Centre would do for athletes? - I think it will make a great deal of difference because it will indicate almost, I think, a change of heart in relation to the provision of athletic facilities in this country. Of course we have got a lot of tracks in comparison with some of the undeveloped countries but we still do not have the facilities present in America or in parts of Scandinavia. Like one has to recognise now that with the rising standard of International Competition, our Athletes, especially if they're amateurs doing a job at the same time, cannot compete unless facilities are provided for them - unless they can train during winter evenings, under artificial light and have a place where their coaches can advise them in a very skilled way/ - Q: When do you think an athlete will run a mile in three minutes forty-five seconds? - Well I have been rash enough to give that as an ultimate figure, of course I don't believe there are ultimates in track performance. I think that athletes will go on gradually improving as long as people still think it's important to go on running and racing. I would have thought we could not have thought to see times of this kind within ten years and it's going to come as I've said by someone like Snell against Elliot and there being an intense personal rivalry which will enable the athlete to let the very best out of himself/ TX 6.5.64 / 8.55pm Neg 16mm ITN (Richardson) / 1.26mins 54ft 37997 / 390DL / 2 / 64