Desert Vipers Boost Local Dubai Communities: Prioritising Mental Wealth
As the excitement builds for the third season of the DP World ILT20, the Desert Vipers are gearing up for another strong campaign leading up to January 2025. Preparations on the pitch are in full swing, with our retentions and direct signings confirmed – all that awaits is the confirmation of our local UAE talent. Beyond the pitch, we’re equally committed to strengthening our team by linking mental wealth and sustainability. This season, we’re proud to introduce new initiatives and partnerships that support our holistic approach to sport.
The Importance of Mental Wealth: Introducing Sanj Sandhu
At the Desert Vipers, we believe in community and recognise that human performance goes beyond simply having the skill: it’s about being able to execute that skill. As our Community Programme expands, I, Sanj Sandhu, have been brought on board as our Education and Wellbeing Lead. With six years of experience supporting individuals across corporate, education, and elite sport environments, my mission is to help local communities to thrive.
I have first-hand experience of working with athletes, both in teams and 1:1. The experience of working at the cutting-edge of sport has encouraged me to dedicate my UK Doctorate studies to explore what sustains elite athlete performance.
My role for Vipers is to design and deliver wellness programmes that enhance the mental wealth of the communities we operate within. Mental wealth is about living life to your fullest potential and striving every day to be a better, healthier version of yourself. If you’re able to do that, there will be a positive ripple effect amongst those around you.
Sport as an Agent for Change
Sport has a unique opportunity to provide lessons that extend far beyond the boundaries of the game. It cultivates essential life skills like resilience, collaboration, and leadership, which are as relevant for schools and corporations as they are for sports teams. By using sport as a vehicle for doing right by the community, we strive to continue uniting diverse backgrounds, foster a sense of belonging, and create opportunities for shared growth.
Contributing to a Healthier Dubai
This move aligns with the Dubai Health Authority, who in July 2024, introduced a Mental Wealth Framework as part of the Dubai Social Agenda 33, highlighting the city’s commitment to mental well-being. From this, the Desert Vipers have launched ‘Introduction to Mental Wealth’ assemblies and workshops, focusing on creating a healthier and more balanced life for individuals and teams alike.
These sessions, which are spearheaded by me, are open to schools and corporate teams. Our holistic approach aims to make well-being accessible and actionable, giving individuals and teams the practical tools to cultivate mental wealth. This month, we’ve got some exciting collaborations in the diary already and if you’re interested in booking a session for your team, get in touch, and we’d love to support you.
Sustainability Spotlight – DP World Tour
In sport, many organisations rely on third party suppliers and providers of goods and services, and this has an environmental impact. If sports are to reduce their overall environmental impact, working with suppliers and partners is crucial. However, it is not always easy. That’s why it is really encouraging to see that this week, DP World Tour has launched a brand-new Sustainability Awards, designed to focus on the multitude of suppliers who help them to deliver more sustainable tournaments. This should encourage suppliers to strive for more when it comes to environmental performance, making a positive difference to the world. What’s even more exciting is that these awards are focusing on the events in our region in the Middle East to begin with, and the winners will be announced at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November.
We commend this idea by our friends at DP World Tour, and we wish all of the participants good luck and look forward to seeing the plethora of initiatives that are submitted.
