Sir Roger made history as the first person to accomplish this feat, which occurred at Oxford University's Iffley Road track on May 6, 1954. The medical student at that time completed the distance in three minutes and 59.4 seconds.

Following his historic achievement of the sub-four-minute mile at the age of just 25, it was arguably the most iconic moment in the history of athletics. The runner would then go on to win gold medals at both the Commonwealth and European Championships. 

However, by the end of 1954, he retired from athletics to pursue his medical studies, focusing on research and treatment related to the body's automatic functions, including heartbeat, blood pressure, and digestion. He later became a renowned neurologist. Though, sadly, Sir Roger passed away in March 2018, at the age of 88.

To mark the 70th anniversary, Museum of World Athletics (MOWA) will present a pop-up exhibition at the OUAC track for three days, from Saturday, May 4, until the Monday. The historic exhibit showcases competition artefacts contributed to the MOWA by nineteen of the world's most renowned middle-distance runners.

Among these athletes are winners of eleven Olympic Games and twelve World Championships 1500m titles, as well as holders of ratified world records, with eight records at 1500m and ten at the mile. This group includes the individual who was the first to achieve a sub-3:30 time for the 1500m, the inaugural individuals to achieve sub-4-minute mile times outdoors and indoors, the initial woman to break the five-minute barrier for the mile, the current holders of the outdoor world records for both men's and women's miles, and the women's indoor 1500m record holder.

Four of these athletes, all of whom have broken world indoor mile records, have collectively earned 20 Wanamaker Mile titles in the renowned Millrose Games held in New York.

Guests visiting the Iffley Road track will have free entry to view the exhibition on Saturday, May 4th, and Sunday, May 5th, 2024. However, on the Bank Holiday Monday, May 6th, which marks the actual anniversary, access will be restricted to invited guests and individuals officially accredited for the Bannister Miles event.

In the afternoon, two World Athletics Heritage Plaques will be unveiled and permanently displayed at the track for public viewing. Sir Roger's plaque, awarded in 2019 under the category of "Legend," commemorates the world's inaugural sub-four-minute mile, accomplished at Iffley Road on May 6, 1954. This achievement stands as one of the most iconic and inspiring feats in modern sporting history.

The Oxford University Athletics Club's plaque, to be awarded on May 6, 2024, falls under the category of "Competition." It acknowledges the club's significant contribution to the development and establishment of track and field athletics. At the time of OUAC's establishment in 1860, track and field athletics were in their nascent stages, lacking formal structure.

The Bannister Community Mile is also scheduled to occur in the heart of Oxford on May 6. Open to individuals of all ages and skill levels, the event will start from St Aldate's, proceed along the High Street, and conclude on Iffley Road, where participants will receive their medals on the renowned track.

Thurstan Bannister, Sir Roger’s younger son, said: “After retiring from competitive athletics, my father continually encouraged elite athletes and amateur runners of all ages, partly in his role as the first chairman of the Sports Council (now Sport England). The track and community miles will be exciting to watch, and I am sure many runners will find them so inspiring, they will shatter their PRs and other records.”