NTC, advice Nike Training Club is a workout class for women in UCD. It is held on Tuesday evenings in the Sports Centre at 5p.m. and sessions cost €4.
NTC only has three base locations in Ireland, DCU, Trinity and UCD. The club is run by over 30 Nike brand ambassadors across Britain and Ireland in many leading universities.
NTC’s work out programme aims to help women achieve fitness goals in a friendly and supportive environment. The session involves the workout of the entire body through dumbbells and exercise based activities.
According to Sophia Ellis, Nike brand ambassador, the club aims to turn “brand fans into active athletes” by “providing them with a friendly, go-to community where they can enjoy a positive atmosphere working out”.
The club also has many incentives for women to take part, such as ‘Nike Woman of the Week’. Goals achieved at the end of each week allow members in with the chance of winning various products. Ellis explained to the College Tribune that the girls are” encouraged to establish their fitness goals and work towards them”. ‘Test Week’ is also held at the end of the year to determine the development of each member since joining the club.
Different advertising techniques are being used to spread the word about Nike Training Club. A flash mob is due to take place in St. Stephan’s Green, the date of which is still to be confirmed. UCD are planning to do a matching flash mob on the same day as the one organised in St. Stephen’s Green.
Rumours and hints of an event to celebrate NTC have also been suggested by Nike. This rumoured event is to take place in London sometime in the summer months. This will involve members of training clubs in some shape or form.
Sophia stated the aim of the club is “to make it more than a fitness class,” which she believes is sometimes the only goal of other fitness clubs. The club is solely dedicated in the support of girls to help them establish their aims and goals.
The club is supporting the social media driven campaign by Nike which encourages participants to ‘Make It Count’ in 2012; acting like a New Year’s resolution for physical fitness and positive change. Ellis told the Tribune that it “involves a commitment to make something of yourself in the year 2012, leading up to the Olympics”.
It’s a modernized version of their ‘Just Do It’ slogan and has helped increase brand dominance – and prices of Nike shares.
Leighanne Bent
