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October 2011
The UK’s No 1 fitness industry magazine
Gyms urged to join Our Greatest Team By Christina Eccles GYMS around the country have been urged to get their members involved in a ‘once in a lifetime’ campaign as part of the build up to next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. Our Greatest Team was launched at this year’s Leisure Industry Week in Birmingham by official Olympic equipment supplier Technogym, Team GB and Paralympics GB. The campaign – which is also supported by the FIA, Sport England and REPs – encourages gyms to sign up and back Great Britain’s athletes by asking members to make healthy pledges of their own – from promising to go to the gym a certain number of times a week to eating more fruit and vegetables and doing more activities with their children. Tony Majakas from Technogym spoke to delegates at the launch. He explained: “We are the ‘movement’ industry and have got the chance to pull together and showcase ourselves – every sport needs fitness. “Gyms can pre-register to join the campaign, which starts in January,
and they will get a ready-made marketing plan. Each location also goes on to a national map and we are going to track every pledge which is made from each one.” He also said the benefits for gyms which get involved include: Our Greatest Team branding in each club – meaning they are linked in an official way to the Olympics. The opportunity to get the word out there to people about their facility via the website, which includes a location map of participating clubs and a mobile phone app. The chance to win the actual fitness equipment used by the athletes in the Olympic Village gym once the Games are over. The campaign is also open to personal trainers who make pledges with their clients and REPs accredited trainers who sign up are also in with a chance of being chosen to join the Technogym trainer team at the Olympic village gym during the Games. Our Greatest Team is being rolled out in January and interested clubs have been invited to pre register via the website www.technogym.com/london2012
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Gyms await fitness award shortlist
Johnson Health Tech UK has signed up one of Britain’s most successful athletes to join its ambassador programme, Team Johnson. Double Olympic gold medal winner and six times world champion rower James Cracknell has joined a core group of elite and up and coming athletes and ambassadors, who will help the company in its quest to promote a fitter Britain. His involvement in the programme was announced at Leisure Industry Week where he appeared on the Matrix Fitness stand.
Watch out for a full Leisure Industry Week review next issue
GYMS up and down the country are anxiously waiting to find out if they have made the shortlist for this year’s National Fitness Awards. Clubs from all corners of the UK put themselves in with the chance of winning an award in one of 18 categories, ranging from gym of the year to best ladies’ only, combat and strength training facilities. Once the Workout team has drawn up the shortlist and visited the clubs which have made the grade, the judges – Carly Thornton, Wil Graham, Andree Deane, David Minton, Ian Wakefield and Jean Ann Marnoch – will have the tough task of picking our winners. Trophies will be handed out at a glittering ceremony at the ICC in Birmingham, hosted by Coronation Street’s Katherine Kelly on November 25, and a full shortlist will be announced in next month’s issue of Workout. To book your place at the event, visit our website www.nationalfitnessawards.co.uk or contact event organiser Liz Lee on ll@whpl.net You can keep up to date with all the news from the awards by following us on Twitter @FitnessAwards