Politicizing Maturity of Iran's Elite Sports: the Role of Platforms, Processes and Levels of Development

Subject Areas : Innovation in Sports Management

mohsen pasban ¹ , mehdi naderi nasab ^{2 *} , Seyed Abas Beniaz ³

1 - Ph.D. Student of Sport Management, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Qazvin Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran
2 - Assistant Professor of Sport Management, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Qazvin Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran
3 - Assistant Professor of Sports Physiology, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Qazvin Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran

Received: 2024-05-19 Accepted : 2024-09-08 Published : 2025-01-04

Keywords: Maturity of elite sports, obstacles, sports development, elite sports, policymaking.,

Abstract :

The purpose of the current research was to identify the obstacles that weaken the maturity of Iran's elite sports and to provide appropriate solutions. The research method is qualitative with a systematic analysis approach. The statistical population included all members of the physical education faculty, managers and experts of executive organizations, sports professionals, and scientific documents and resources. A sufficient number of statistical samples were selected based on theoretical saturation in a purposeful and accessible manner (16 people and 17 documents). The research tools included a systematic library study and semi-structured interview, and the validity of the tool was evaluated using qualitative validity methods (content validity). The method of coding and conceptual framing was used to analyze the findings. Obstacles to the maturity of elite sports policymaking in Iran were identified in the form of 11 dimensions, which include strategic obstacles of professional sports, national obstacles of sports policymaking, implementation and support obstacles, control system, political tools, participation of institutions, talent management, scientific and technological, commercial capacity. The competitiveness of elite sport was resource and performance. The identified dimensions were divided into three macro, medium and micro levels. The framework presented in this research creates an understanding of the dimensions of elite sports maturity policy based on its relationship with a set of different activities. Based on this framework, it is possible to objectively assess the level of management activities in elite sports and provide scientific information on the appropriate measures that sports organizations should take to develop elite sports development policies. Considering that the main obstacles to the maturity of elite sports policy were identified in the current research, it is suggested for future researches to quantitatively examine the methods of improving each of these obstacles. Also, the influence of supporting factors in the field of creation and maturity of elite sports policy should be investigated. Because in the current study, the ideal and existing state of maturity of Iran's elite sports was not investigated, therefore, it is suggested that both the current and ideal state of maturity of Iran's elite sports should be identified and the gap between them should be investigated and analyzed. Probably, the proposed framework has weaknesses and shortcomings, so further research is necessary to evolve the research framework and eliminate its possible weaknesses.

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