THE UNIVERSITY HAVE announced their choice of contractor for their new gym equipment in the sports village due to open next year.
They have opted to replace the existing Precor machines in favour of TechnoGym, who specialise in strength and cardio-vascular appliances.
Their treadmills, cross trainers and training bikes all have touchscreen interactive interfaces, which will allow students to watch Sky television, listen to their ipod and even send e-mails whilst they exercise.
It is a coup for the university as TechnoGym are also the contractor to the British Olympic Association (BOA), who will have the same fixtures in the athletes’ village in London next summer.
This new equipment is being implemeted in the 120 station gymnasium on the new £9 million Heslington East sports village which is accompanying a swimming pool, group exercise spaces, saunas and asroturf pitches.
In the existing sports centre gym, new space is being created, increasing the capacity from 65 berths to 90 and its equipment will focus more on strength and conditioning.
The computerisation of the fitness fittings at the University is reflective of the wider renovation of the sports facilities on campus, and the increase in size from the current total of 60 stations to 210 shows an intention to increase participation amongst students as well as the attractiveness of on-campus fitness options.
There is a tendency for uni sportsmen to go to nearby David Lloyd on Hull Road, and Keith Morris, in charge of University sport, wants students to “feel more of an affinity with what we have to offer on campus.”
James Faktor, Captain of the Men’s First Rugby team thinks the new equipment and increase in size is a good idea.”At the moment, the gym is quite small, at key times you can’t get to machines you want, and there aren’t enough specific machines to cater for your needs. With more space and modern, up to date machines, you will be able to get the whole team down to use the on-campus facilities.”