Extended Abstract
Background and Purpose
Sustainable development is a multifaceted concept that can only be truly achieved when economic, social, and political development progress simultaneously, with a particular emphasis on safeguarding the interests of society’s most disadvantaged groups. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has strongly emphasized the implementation of sustainable development principles within the realm of sports. Central to this commitment is Agenda 21 of the Olympic Movement, which encourages its members to actively contribute to the formation and promotion of sustainable development on a global scale. In Iran, sports federations have been mandated to establish working groups or committees dedicated to achieving environmental goals aligned with international sustainable development objectives. These objectives include the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, which sports organizations worldwide are encouraged to pursue.
Despite the existence of numerous studies on the role and function of sports in advancing sustainable development, there remains a significant gap in addressing the fundamental and practical components that influence this process, particularly the environmental aspects. Recognizing this gap, the present research was designed to identify and prioritize the effective components that influence the development of sports in Iran through the lens of environmental sustainability.
Methods
The study is practical in nature and employs a descriptive-survey methodology that integrates both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Initially, data were gathered and categorized through a thorough review of theoretical foundations, existing research, and official documents. To deepen the understanding of the factors affecting sustainable sports development, the researchers conducted in-depth interviews with sixteen experts specializing in sports and environmental issues within Iran. These interviews provided rich qualitative data that were subsequently analyzed. To prioritize the identified criteria, the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) was employed, a method well-suited for handling the inherent uncertainty and subjectivity in expert judgments.

Findings
The results of the study indicated a normal distribution of data, validating the appropriateness of the analytical methods used. Ultimately, four main criteria and twenty-one sub-criteria were identified as the most influential components in the sustainable development of sports in Iran.
Main Criteria Prioritization: Among these, the social and cultural criterion emerged as the most significant, with a weight of 0.54884, underscoring the profound impact of social values, cultural norms, and community engagement on sports sustainability. Following closely was the environmental and health criterion, with a weight of 0.29265, highlighting the critical importance of environmental stewardship and health promotion in the sports sector. The approach and management criterion, with a weight of 0.10670, reflected the role of strategic planning, governance, and organizational processes in facilitating sustainable sports development. The economic criterion, although essential, was assigned the lowest priority with a weight of 0.05222, suggesting that while economic factors are important, they are not the primary drivers in this context.
Sub-Criteria Prioritization: Delving deeper into the sub-criteria, the study revealed that combating social exclusion was the most critical sub-factor, carrying a weight of 0.229. This finding emphasizes the role of sports as a powerful tool for social inclusion, providing marginalized groups with opportunities for participation, empowerment, and community integration. The second most important sub-criterion was the development of youth activities and the enhancement of their involvement in collective life and sports responsibility institutions, with a weight of 0.134. This reflects the recognition that youth engagement is vital for the long-term sustainability of sports and its positive social impacts. The third-ranked sub-criterion was the creation of sports facilities, equipment, and infrastructure that respect environmental considerations, coupled with the development of sustainable management methods, which garnered a weight of 0.131. This highlights the necessity of environmentally conscious infrastructure development and operational practices within the sports sector. Interestingly, the economic criterion’s relatively low priority suggests that economic factors do not serve as significant inhibitors to sustainable development in sports within Iran. However, this does not diminish their importance, especially in developing countries where economic considerations and job creation in sports remain critical. Another noteworthy observation concerns the sub-criterion related to intensifying the fight against doping. Despite its high importance on the international stage, particularly for organizations like the International Olympic Committee, doping control was not assigned a high weight in this study. This may be explained by the relatively limited prevalence of systematic doping in Iran and the generally unfavorable attitudes of coaches and sports managers toward such practices. Consequently, doping does not currently represent a major underlying problem in most Iranian sports fields, which explains the lower emphasis placed on this sub-criterion by experts.
Conclusion
Sports inherently provide a foundation for learning essential life skills such as discipline, self-confidence, and leadership. They also teach fundamental principles like tolerance, cooperation, and respect. Moreover, sports instill values related to effort, resilience, and the management of both victory and defeat. When these positive aspects of sport are emphasized, sport becomes a powerful vehicle for achieving broader goals related to sustainable development.
Sports managers can address the challenges identified in this study through collaboration with sustainability experts. These professionals bring practical knowledge and analytical expertise in integrating environmental sustainability with sports operations. Their involvement can assist sports managers in developing, integrating, measuring, and refining sustainability initiatives, ensuring that environmental considerations become embedded in organizational practices.
It is imperative that current and future professionals in the sports industry develop a comprehensive understanding of sustainability, particularly environmental sustainability, and appreciate its value to their organizations. Awareness of the intrinsic values of the natural environment is crucial for fostering responsible management and operational decisions. Similar to non-sports sectors, sports organizations and leagues vary widely in their recognition and interpretation of environmental sustainability and in their capacity to monitor and evaluate sustainability performance.
To advance sustainable sports development in Iran, it is essential to consider all the identified criteria and sub-criteria holistically. Prioritization of these factors is necessary to guide effective implementation, particularly within the domain of management planning, where some factors may be addressed sooner while others require longer-term focus.
In conclusion, this research provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and prioritizing the components essential to sustainable sports development in Iran. By emphasizing social and cultural dimensions alongside environmental, managerial, and economic factors, the study offers valuable insights for policymakers, sports organizations, and practitioners committed to aligning sports with sustainable development goals.

Article Message
This research demonstrates that sustainable sports development in Iran is primarily influenced by socio‑cultural factors, particularly combating social exclusion and increasing youth participation. Furthermore, paying attention to environmentally friendly infrastructure and green management is considered a key priority. Although economic factors received the lowest weight, their importance in job creation and long‑term sustainability should not be overlooked. The core message for sports managers is that by collaborating with sustainability experts and prioritizing social and environmental components, they can turn sports into an effective tool for achieving sustainable development goals.
Ethical Considerations
The present study was conducted in full compliance with ethical standards in scientific research. Participation of all experts in the interviews was voluntary, and the research objectives were explained to them prior to the interviews, with informed consent obtained. The confidentiality of personal information and viewpoints of the participants was fully preserved, and the data were used solely in aggregated form without disclosing names in the analyses.
Authors' Contributions
All authors contributed equally to all stages of this research, including study design, collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, drafting the manuscript, critical revision, and final editing, and have approved the final version.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that there is no financial or non‑financial conflict of interest regarding the conduct of this research, data analysis, or publication of the results.
Acknowledgments
The authors express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to all esteemed experts and specialists in the fields of sports and environment in Iran who participated in the interviews for this research and shared their valuable experiences with the research team. Thanks are also extended to all cooperating institutions and organizations that facilitated the data collection process.