Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Student of Sport Management, Department of Sport Sciences, Jahrom branch, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Iran

2 Associate Professor of Sport Management, Department of Sport Sciences, Jahrom University, Jahrom, Iran

3 Assistant Professor of Sport Management, Department of Sport Sciences, Zand Institute of Higher Education, Shiraz, Iran

4 Assistant Professor Sport Management, Department of Sport Sciences, Jahrom branch, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Iran

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this article was to study the role of sport in sustainable environmental development.
Methodology: The research method is applied – developmental. method. In order to collect data, exploratory type of qualitative research. The statistical population included top managers of sport organizations (including National Olympic Committee, Ministry of Sports and some sports federations), specialists and experts of sport management in Iran and some managers of the Iranian Department of Environment of whom 13 experts were chosen by using purposive sampling method and snowballing technique. The semi-structured interview was used as data collection tool. Data analysis was done by using grounded theory through open, axial and selective coding.
Results: The results indicated that the pattern of the sustainable environmental development based on the sport consists of 211 concepts and 25 subcategories which are causal factors including 4 articles, contexts and contexts with 4 categories, intervention factors with 5 categories, strategies including 8 categories and consequences with 4 categories respectively. Moreover, one category was considered as axial phenomenon.
Conclusion: According to the results from the model, it was indicated that the sustainable environmental development based on the sport is affected by foresight, environmental values of sport, environmental requirements of sport, green sports movement, educational and research, communication and promotional elements, economics, structural, and managerial factors and can also lead to green productivity in sports and the quality of life and well-being of citizens.

Keywords