نقش میانجی دیپلماسی ورزشی در رابطه بین قدرت نرم و تعاملات بین‌المللی در ورزش ایران

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of sports diplomacy in the relationship between soft power and international interactions in Iranian sport. Given the growing role of sport in enhancing countries’ soft power and promoting international engagement, examining the mechanisms influencing this relationship is of particular importance. The research employed a descriptive–correlational design based on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The statistical population consisted of 400 experts and specialists in sport management and international relations in Iran, including university faculty members, federation managers, experts from the Ministry of Sport and Youth, and officials from the National Olympic Committee. Based on Morgan’s table, a sample of 200 participants was selected through cluster sampling, and data were collected using a convenience sampling approach during the implementation phase. Data were gathered using three questionnaires: the Soft Power Questionnaire (20 items, α = 0.87), the Sports Diplomacy Questionnaire (18 items, α = 0.89), and the International Interactions Questionnaire (15 items, α = 0.91). The validity of the instruments was confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis. The findings indicated that soft power has a positive and significant effect on international interactions (β = 0.35, p < 0.01) and also significantly influences sports diplomacy (β = 0.72, p < 0.001). Furthermore, sports diplomacy was found to have a significant positive effect on international interactions (β = 0.58, p < 0.001). In addition, the mediating role of sports diplomacy in the relationship between soft power and international interactions was confirmed (t = 4.78, p < 0.001). Overall, the results suggest that sports diplomacy serves as a key intermediary mechanism in transforming soft power capacities into international interactions. By facilitating sports cooperation, international exchanges, and the enhancement of national image, sports diplomacy can be employed as an effective instrument in sport policy-making and foreign diplomacy.