Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under (CC BY-NC 4.0) license

Authors

• Ayoub Ebadi Mehr ¹
• Amin Khatibi ²
• Esmaeil Veysia ²
• Seyed Hossein Marashian ²
• Tahereh Azmsha ³

¹ PhD Student in Sport Management, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

² Associate Professor in Sport Management, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

³ Assistant Professor in Sport Management, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the attitudes of cultural authorities in Khuzestan province toward electronic sports (e-sports), given the rapid global growth of e-sports and the unique ethnic, cultural, and religious context of the province.
Methodology: A qualitative approach with a descriptive-analytical method was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with 16 cultural authorities from organizations including Education, Islamic Culture and Guidance, Seminaries, and Media. Theoretical saturation was reached at the 15th interview. Data analysis was conducted using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis. Purposeful theoretical sampling with maximum diversity was applied.
Results: Six main themes emerged: (1) conceptual definition and distinction of e-sports from traditional sports; (2) current and future position in public culture; (3) predominantly negative-conditional attitude; (4) perceived threats (physical, psychological, cultural, social, identity-ethnic); (5) conditional opportunities and localization strategies; (6) role of key institutions. The dominant attitude was negative (87.5%), but conditional acceptance was noted, contingent upon full localization and production of Iranian-Islamic content aligned with Khuzestan’s local values. Education was identified as the most central institution for cultural development and policymaking.
Conclusion: The findings underscored the need for targeted cultural policymaking, development of local content inspired by the Holy Defense, Arbaeen, and Khuzestan’s history, and media literacy education to facilitate conditional and localized acceptance of e-sports.

Keywords

• Electronic sports (E-sports)
• Cultural authorities
• Socio-cultural attitude
• Localization
• Khuzestan province

Main Subjects

• Culture, Media and Technology in Sport