Background and Purpose
Hosting global and international events represents a significant factor in the growth and development of Zurkhaneh and Pahlavani wrestling. To attract the attention of the international sports community and encourage their participation in competitions held within the country, it is essential to meet the needs of the wrestlers. This requires providing event managers with insights derived from studies on service quality. By enhancing service quality at wrestling events, managers can play a pivotal role in the development of this sport both nationally and internationally, thereby creating a foundation for attracting and increasing the participation of world-renowned wrestlers. Evaluations of services at major sports events in host cities offer valuable perspectives and constructive ideas for future event managers to leverage hosting opportunities effectively. The findings from this research can inform officials and sports managers in developing more effective strategic plans for securing hosting rights for future events. Consequently, this research aims to answer the following question: What factors influenced the quality of services at the major international Pahlavani Wrestling event hosted by the city of Tabriz?
 
Methods
This study employed a quantitative research approach, characterized by a descriptive-analytical strategy, a practical purpose, and a survey method for data collection. The statistical population consisted of all wrestlers and technical staff participating in the World Pahlavani Wrestling Championships held on 19th and 20th of Bahman, 1402 (February 8-9, 2024) at the Pour Sharifi Sports Complex in Tabriz. A non-random, convenience sampling method was used. Twelve foreign teams (from Azerbaijan, the Autonomous Republic of Adjara (Georgia), Afghanistan, Georgia, India, Pakistan, Russia, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Moldova) and two domestic teams (Iran's A and B national teams) participated in the event. Questionnaires were distributed to all athletes and technical staff, resulting in 62 completed questionnaires being returned and analyzed. The research instrument was a questionnaire combining two established service quality tools: the SERVQUAL model by Parasuraman et al. (1988) and a questionnaire by Mohammad Mirza et al. (2023). The combined instrument contained 40 items, and its face and content validity were confirmed by a panel of eight sports management professors. The reliability of the questionnaire, calculated using Cronbach's alpha, was α = 0.89. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 27 software for descriptive statistics. For inferential statistics, after confirming the non-normal distribution of data via the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and considering the small sample size, SmartPLS 3 software was utilized to model the relationships between variables within a structural equation model and to test the research hypotheses.
 
Results
In SmartPLS, structural equation modeling involves two main components: the assessment of the measurement model and the evaluation of the structural model. The measurement model was assessed for reliability using Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability, and factor loading coefficients, alongside convergent validity; all indices were confirmed. After establishing model fit using indicators such as the coefficient of determination (R²), Stone-Geisser index (Q²), and Goodness of Fit (GOF), the structural model was evaluated to measure the relationships between the research variables. As presented in Table 1, all seven identified criteria had a significant impact on the service quality of the 2024 World Pahlavani Wrestling Championships, according to the participating wrestlers. These factors, in order of their path coefficient magnitude, are: Quality of Organization (0.222), Facilities and Equipment Quality (0.215), Safety and Security Quality (0.159), Human Resources Quality (0.155), Competition Salon Quality (0.136), Accommodation and Transportation Quality (0.121), and Information Quality (0.107).
 
Table 1. Results of research hypotheses testing





path direction


path coefficient


significance


t-statistic


Result




Facilities and equipment Quality ---> Services quality of Pahlavi wrestling


0.215


0.000


11.226


Confirmed




Information quality ---> Services quality of Pahlavi wrestling


0.107


0.000


11.226


Confirmed




Competition salon quality ---> Services quality of Pahlavi wrestling


0.136


0.000


9.350


Confirmed




Human resources quality ---> Services quality of Pahlavi wrestling


0.155


0.000


16.901


Confirmed




Accommodation and transportation quality ---> Services quality of Pahlavi wrestling


0.121


0.000


11.140


Confirmed




Quality of Organization ---> Services quality of Pahlavi wrestling


0.222


0.000


14.027


Confirmed




Safety and security quality ---> Services quality of Pahlavi wrestling


0.159


0.000


10.581


Confirmed





 
 
 
Conclusion
Pahlavani wrestling events not only promote health and vitality but also foster a spirit of chivalry and magnanimity. Recognized as a national sport by the Federation of Zurkhaneh and Pahlavani Wrestling Sports, and inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010 under Iran's name, this sport holds significant cultural value. Therefore, it is imperative for the country's sports officials to pay greater attention to this event. This includes hosting similar events in other provinces and organizing higher-level tournaments with enhanced quality. The findings of this research can provide valuable guidance for officials and managers, smoothing the path for effectively managing and organizing such events. Hosting world and international Zurkhaneh and Pahlavani wrestling events in Iran will undoubtedly contribute to the further development of this sport, attract enthusiasts, and guarantee a bright future for this athletic tradition in the country. Event managers can utilize the factors identified in this study to assess service quality from the perspective of the primary consumers—the athletes and team staff—and apply these insights to improve event quality and build a stronger event brand.
 
Article Message
This study identified and validated the seven key factors that determined service quality at the 2024 World Pahlavani Wrestling Championships in Tabriz. The results demonstrate that the Organization Quality and the Quality of Facilities and Equipment were the most significant drivers of participant satisfaction. These were followed by Safety and Security, Human Resources, and other factors. This research provides event managers with a practical model to systematically evaluate and enhance the quality of future Pahlavani wrestling events. By prioritizing these specific areas, particularly mastering the logistical and administrative organization, sports officials can more effectively meet participant expectations, solidify Iran's reputation as a leading host for this heritage sport, and ensure its sustainable global development.
Ethical Considerations
This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of research. All ethical considerations, including obtaining informed consent from participants, ensuring the confidentiality of their information, and clarifying the research objectives, were strictly observed throughout the research process.
Authors' Contributions
Conceptualization: First and Second Authors
Data Collection: Second and Third Authors
Data Analysis: First Author
Manuscript Writing: First Author
Review and Editing: Authors
Responsible for Funding: Authors
Literature Review: Authors
Project Manager: Second Author
Any other Contributions: None
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to express their gratitude to all the wrestlers and technical staff who participated in this study, as well as the organizers of the 2024 World Pahlavani Wrestling Championships in Tabriz for their cooperation.