https://journal.olympic.ir/ journal of olympic studies en daily 1 Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://journal.olympic.ir/article_244978.html Adopting an applied-developmental orientation within the framework of strategic foresight, this study examines plausible futures of Iran’s sport industry under conditions of persistent security uncertainty and the potential escalation of wartime crisis. Methodologically, the study is Mixed-methods and exploratory. The futures were designed using Peter Schwartz’s scenario planning approach based on the Global Business Network method. Data were collected through documentary review and semi-structured interviews with experts and key stakeholders, including senior sport administrators, federation, league, and club managers, managers of sport venues and facilities, security officials responsible for sport events and competitions, crisis management specialists, experts in passive and active defense, and academic faculty members. Purposive sampling was employed; 20 initial categories were identified, and theoretical saturation was achieved at the thirtieth interview.The findings indicate that two critical uncertainties—namely the intensity of economic sanctions and the degree of security instability in West Asia—play the most decisive role in shaping the future scenarios of Iran’s sport industry. In addition, proxy wars, sabotage, targeted assassinations, direct military threats, cyber warfare, constraints on sport diplomacy, and reduced hosting opportunities were identified as reinforcing drivers. The results further suggest that, under high-tension scenarios, the sport industry is likely to face revenue compression, rising costs and supply disruptions, declining hosting opportunities and international engagement, and heightened digital and cyber vulnerability. Moreover, the absence of a coherent security-strategic perspective and the lack of clearly defined security scenarios intensify the institutional vulnerability of the sport industry.The study concludes that, in wartime crisis conditions, the future of Iran’s sport industry is shaped less by ordinary development trajectories than by governance capacity to manage threats, strengthen financial and digital resilience, design security-oriented scenarios, and establish early warning mechanisms. Accordingly, the scenarios developed in this study can provide a foundation for forward-looking decision-making and for enhancing the resilience of Iran’s sport industry in the face of security and wartime crises. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_243717.html The purpose of this study was to design a model of the relationship between the social capital of the National Olympic Committee and financial reporting using the Big Bath theory. The research method is descriptive, correlational and applied in terms of purpose. The statistical population included all members of the General Assembly of the National Olympic Committee of Iran from 2014 to 2022, 147 people, who were considered as a statistical sample using the total number sampling method. Of the 147 questionnaires distributed, 121 questionnaires were returned, so the statistical sample was limited to 121 people. The data collection tool included the Nahaiyat and Ghoshal (1998) social capital questionnaire and the Wen Individual Financial Reporting Questionnaire (2017). The face and content validity of the questionnaires were approved by the supervisor. The reliability of the questionnaires was calculated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the above questionnaires as 1.77 and 1.73, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient and logistic linear regression were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study showed that there is a significant relationship between social capital and its components of relational, structural and cognitive capitals with financial reporting in the National Olympic Committee using the Big Bath theory (1.11). The results also show that social capital can affect financial reporting through its various dimensions (relational, structural and cognitive). Also, the Big Bath theory acts as a moderating factor in this relationship and can affect the way financial reports are made during critical periods. This model can be used as a framework for improving financial reporting in sports organizations such as the National Olympic Committee. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_243969.html The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges of Muslim women's competitive sports. The present study was conducted using the layered causal analysis method. This method is qualitative and exploratory in terms of approach. Considering the nature of the subject and the classification of layers, the triangulation method was used to collect data. Data triangulation uses multiple data sources in a study, which can include (interviews_ visual media_ news_ study of theoretical foundations and documents). In the interview section, 16 people (professors, coaches, and professional athletes) were interviewed. The layered causal analysis method was used to analyze the data. The findings of this study showed that the challenges for Muslim women in competitive sports at the litany level include: restrictions on Islamic clothing and attire, negative cultural and social attitudes, gender discrimination; challenges at the systematic level include the categories of: economic problems, social problems, lack of facilities and infrastructure, and individual problems; Challenges at the discourse analysis level include: traditionalist versus modernist worldview, attitude towards women's bodies, westernist versus nativist worldview; and finally, the last level, myths and metaphors, including: women as guardians of the home, sacred bodies, competition, men's arena, and heroes as victims. Therefore, we conclude that in order to reduce the challenges of competitive sports for Muslim women, it is necessary to strengthen financial and infrastructural support, provide appropriate conditions for Islamic dress, and correct negative attitudes and gender stereotypes through education and the media to provide the basis for their greater participation and success. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_236145.html This study was conducted with the aim of identifying the factors influencing the development of professional Taekwondo league clubs. The research design was mixed-methods (qualitative-quantitative) and Futures research. In the qualitative section, content analysis and interviews with 16 Taekwondo experts (using purposive sampling based on expertise and experience in Taekwondo and development) were carried out. The interviews were based on the (STEEP) model by Peter Schwartz (1970), a common tool in future studies research, and continued until data saturation was reached. The quantitative sample consisted of 66 experts with knowledge in club management and Taekwondo, selected purposively. The five driving forces in the model—economic, socio-cultural, technological, political, and environmental—were expanded through semi-structured interviews, and specific indicators for each driving force were derived based on the state of professional Taekwondo league clubs. The analysis results identified 44 components for the five driving forces. The results showed that, from the experts' perspective, the highest averages were in the socio-cultural area (culture of shareholding), political (level of convergence between sports and political managers), economic (sustainable revenue generation), environmental (attention to clean air), and, lastly, technological (development of communication infrastructure). It is recommended that for the future development of professional Taekwondo league clubs, attention should be given to promoting the culture of shareholding in society and ensuring clubs achieve sustainable revenue generation, while adopting appropriate executive processes. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_231041.html The aim of this study was to identify the psychological strategies employed by Iranian Olympic medalists to achieve performance excellence.Given the nature of the research, a qualitative approach with thematic analysis was adopted. The target population included Iranian Olympic medalist athletes, their coaches, and associated sports psychologists. Data were collected through 12 semi-structured field interviews and 8 document-based interviews from written sources. After transcription, the total dataset comprised 116,693 words, which were analyzed in MAXQDA following Braun and Clarke’s six-step procedure (2006). Through repeated reading and familiarization with the data, 555 meaningful units related to psychological strategies were identified. Subsequently, through an iterative process of refining and clustering codes and subthemes, the initial codes were organized into 25 subthemes under 5 main themes. The five main themes and their subthemes of psychological strategies were: 1.Learning (awareness and experience, learning and training, modeling); 2. Effective application of mental skills (self-talk, imagery and mental rehearsal, routines, focus and refocusing); 3.Lifestyle integration (lifestyle congruence, professional lifestyle, multidimensionality); 4. Optimal preparation (technical and physical training and preparation, mental preparation); and, 5. Self-regulation, which included a broad range of subcategories such as: stress and anxiety management, negative thought management, discipline, goal-setting and planning, motivational regulation, problem-solving and decision-making, attention to detail, maintaining focus and attentional control, emotion regulation, continuous evaluation and analysis, effective prioritization and handling distractions, managing obstacles and coping with challenges and discouragements, and agentic help-seeking.The findings suggest that the psychological strategies of Iranian Olympic medalists are not isolated techniques but an integrated and dynamic network that interweaves cognitive, physical, emotional, and social dimensions. These insights highlight the unique cultural and contextual aspects of elite performance in Iran and provide practical implications for designing sport psychology interventions and preparation programs for high-performance athletes. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_220943.html Static stretching is recognized for its effectiveness in enhancing flexibility, primarily due to its simplicity and established benefits in increasing range of motion (ROM). This study aimed to investigate several under-researched aspects of static stretching, including the effects of periodization, retention of ROM through various protocols, and its potential to improve ROM in the upper limbs. A total of 49 healthy young women (ages 24.81 ± 5.84 years) were randomly assigned to a control group or one of three training groups. Each training group participated in three weekly sessions focusing on short, long, or periodized stretching, with each limb receiving 145 seconds of stretching. Range of motion was assessed biweekly using goniometry applications (Goniometro for Android and Moasure for iOS) before and throughout the eight-week training period, as well as four weeks post-training. Data were analyzed using a 4 × 7 mixed model ANOVA (groups × measurement times) for each joint, with a significance level set at p<.05. The results showed no significant differences among groups regarding shoulder flexion and ankle dorsiflexion ROM. However, hip flexion ROM improved over time in the short and periodized protocols, with gains retained after four weeks. All three training groups exhibited similar trends in wrist extension improvement. Overall, while results varied across limbs, short and periodized stretching bouts appear more effective than prolonged sessions, considering the percentage of change and ease of adherence. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_224123.html Abstract:This study aimed to examine the relationship between sport mindfulness and mental toughness with perceived fatigue among athletes. The statistical population consisted of all athletes at the University of Tehran, from whom 50 individuals were selected as the research sample. The research method was descriptive-correlational. The variables of this study included mental toughness, mindfulness, and perceived fatigue. The data collection tools included the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ) by Sheard et al., the Sport Mindfulness Questionnaire by Thienot et al., and the Borg Perceived Fatigue Scale. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation were employed, and in the inferential section, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to assess the normality of the data distribution, while Pearson’s correlation coefficient was applied to test the research hypotheses. The results showed a significant correlation between perceived fatigue and the subscales of athletes' mental toughness (p < 0.05); however, no significant relationship was observed between perceived fatigue and the subscales of mindfulness (p > 0.05). Ultimately, the findings emphasize the role of psychological traits in athletic performance, particularly in perceived fatigue. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_232544.html The purpose of this study was to present a model of factors affecting success in the implementation of strategic knowledge management in Iranian women's championship sports.in terms of descriptive-exploratory nature and due to the application of methodology, it is a qualitative-quantitative research that will be conducted using the thematic analysis method. The statistical population in the qualitative part of the present study includes experts and experts including professors and faculty members of the Faculty of Sport Sciences, staff and heads of the Sport and Youth Department, as well as sports boards and all people involved in the field of sport After selecting the inclusion criteria (field of work, level of education, organizational rank, job experience, field of research, level of articles and researches conducted,) they will be interviewed. The statistical population is estimated to be between 70 and 100 people. The interviews will continue according to the purposive sampling method until the data reach theoretical saturation. In order to evaluate the validity of the tool, five professors in the field of sport management will be asked to participate in the research and to investigate the validity of the research tool. The interview questions will be provided to these professors and after reviewing the 30 interview questions by them, the validity of the interview questions will be confirmed. In order to calculate the reliability of the interview using the intra-the-subject agreement method of two coders (evaluator), a research colleague will be asked to participate in the research. The necessary training and techniques for coding the interview were explained to him. Then the researcher and the researcher codified an interview and the percentage of intra-subject agreement which is used as the reliability index of the analysis will be calculated.The percentage was obtained, which showed good reliability. The recorded interviews and all the content were typed verbatim into Microsoft Word and analyzed using QSR NVivo (version 12), a software package for qualitative data analysis.The results showed that the results of confirmatory factor analysis show that nine factors such as management, organizational structure, knowledge architecture, culture, human resources, information technology, knowledge processes, motivational rewards and knowledge content are considered as key factors for success in the implementation of knowledge management in sports organizations .The results of interpretive structural modeling indicate that the management factor has the highest influence and the least dependence among the other eight key factors https://journal.olympic.ir/article_224977.html The aim of the present study was to identify the effective components in smart governance in Iranian sports. The present study is exploratory and applied in nature. The statistical population of this study was specialists and experts in the field of sports industry (senior sports managers of the country, sports diplomats, sports management professors with at least 5 years of experience in the field of sports diplomacy and development, sports industrialists (producers of sports products). The sampling of the research population was carried out using purposive and snowball sampling methods and theoretical saturation index. A total of 17 interviews were conducted. The content analysis method was used to analyze this research. The results showed that the effective components in smart governance in Iranian sports included; technological infrastructure, citizen empowerment and competence, transparent governance, electronic participation, quality of governance, legislation, technological developments, smart management, interactive communication technology, setting the foundation for assumptions and the nature of smart governance. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_227721.html AbstractThis study analyzes the causal characteristics underlying the development of Iranian cultural values through physical education and sport. The primary objective of the research is to identify and elucidate the factors that contribute to the formation and reinforcement of Iranian cultural values within the context of physical education and sport. The central research question addresses which factors play a role in strengthening and expanding these values, and how they can influence the process of cultural growth and development in the country. The methodology employed in this study is grounded theory, following the Charmaz approach. The statistical population comprised 20 experts in the fields of sports management and sociology, from whom data were collected through in-depth interviews. The resulting codes were identified and systematically analyzed using MAXQDA 2020 software. The research identified six core categories as key factors in the development of cultural values through physical education and sport: national culture and identity, people and society, economy and labor development, Iranian culture and history, education and ethics, and physical and mental health. The findings indicate that sport serves not only as a means to enhance physical health and capability but also plays a crucial role in shaping and reinforcing cultural values within society. Ultimately, it is recommended that sports programs be designed and developed with a cultural and social orientation, in order to fully harness the potential of sport in strengthening the cultural values of Iran. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_237350.html AbstractAthletes consistently strive to achieve peak performance. In this pursuit, maintaining optimal attention levels and reducing anxiety are considered key factors influencing optimal athletic performance. This has led researchers in sports psychology to focus on the relationship between psychological strategy training and its role in managing attention and anxiety. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) strategy training on reducing sports anxiety, enhancing selective attention, and improving performance in taekwondo athletes.This study was applied in purpose and utilized a quasi-experimental method with a pre-test–post-test control group design, including a one-month follow-up period. For this purpose, 40 taekwondo athletes were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (receiving NLP training) or a control group. The research instruments included the Sport Anxiety Scale (SAS) by Smith et al. (1990), the Sports Performance Questionnaire by Charbonneau et al. (2001), the standard Poomsae form of the World Taekwondo Federation, and the d2 Test of Attention. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23, employing descriptive statistics and inferential statistical methods (Multivariate Analysis of Covariance with repeated measures) at a significance level of 0.05.The findings indicated that NLP strategy training significantly led to a reduction in sports anxiety, an increase in selective attention, and an improvement in the athletic performance of the participants. Furthermore, the intervention effects remained stable during the one-month follow-up period. Based on the results obtained, the use of Neuro-Linguistic Programming strategies is recommended as an effective interventional method for reducing anxiety, enhancing focus, and promoting athletic performance in taekwondo athletes. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_236149.html The study aimed to investigate emerging visual technologies in the transformation of professional football. This research was conducted with a qualitative approach and through a phenomenological strategy. Data were collected and analyzed through in-depth semi-structured interviews using a seven-step phenomenological process. In this research, 20 experts and experienced individuals were interviewed, including visual rights managers, television broadcasters, broadcast operations, professional analysts, journalists, technology, creativity and innovation managers, project leaders, business managers, revenue managers and sports media managers in football clubs and leagues around the world who had direct experience in the field of sports and visual technologies. Visual technologies in football matches, in three recording areas (such as professional sports video cameras, professional microphones, simultaneous audio and video recording equipment), processing (such as video editing systems, sports graphics production systems, player and ball tracking systems, AR and VR technology systems, AI-based video processing technologies), and broadcasting (live TV broadcasting systems, internet and satellite broadcasting systems, sports streaming platforms, video compression and transmission, and 360-degree and VR broadcasting technologies) were examined. The results show that the use of modern visual technologies, such as VAR and goal-line technology, has increased fairness in refereeing decisions and reduced human errors. Additionally, player tracking and AR technologies have helped improve coaches' technical and tactical analysis and enhance player performance. This research emphasizes that visual technologies play an effective role in enhancing the professionalism of sports and improving refereeing and technical processes. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_234844.html This study aimed to identify and qualitatively analyze the indicators for developing a service specialization model in sports academies based on customer typology. From a paradigmatic perspective, the research adopts a postmodern approach. The study is qualitative in nature, based on the type of data and research objectives, and was conducted using a Thematic Analysis approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with experts in sports management, as well as managers of football and futsal academies. MAXQDA software was used to analyze the qualitative data. The findings revealed that customer understanding and analysis, service personalization, customer relations, training and skill development, technology and digitalization, environment and equipment design, marketing and branding, and culture and awareness-building significantly influence the specialization of services in sports academies. The results of this study can assist academy managers in designing and implementing personalized training programs tailored to the characteristics and athletic goals of each athlete, establishing and applying continuous feedback systems to monitor and enhance service quality, and increasing athlete loyalty by aligning services and facilities with individual needs, preferences, and motivations. Furthermore, the findings can support managers in identifying different target groups, providing appropriate supportive and motivational services, and enhancing the overall athlete experience within the academy environment, thereby facilitating strategic decision-making and continuous performance improvement. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_236151.html The purpose of this study was to examine and analyze the inhibiting factors in the process of implementing elite sports policies in Iran’s Paralympics. Employing a qualitative approach and thematic analysis method, this applied research was conducted inductively. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 participants, including athletes, coaches, and Paralympic experts, selected purposefully and analyzed inductively. The findings indicate that the classification system, due to weak infrastructures and a shortage of specialists, hinders competitive fairness and the development of athletes with disabilities in Iran. Insufficient budget, inadequate public resources, and limitations in attracting investment have disrupted the implementation of elite sports policies. The limited capacity of federations and lack of specialized management have further intensified executive challenges. Moreover, media representation, often emotional and tragic, has downplayed the technical abilities of athletes and reproduced discriminatory stereotypes, thereby impeding sustainable development and the advancement of Paralympic sport. Consequently, strengthening inter-institutional cooperation and civil society engagement emerges as a key factor in providing comprehensive support for athletes with disabilities, which in turn will ensure the realization of elite sports policies and enhance the international standing of Iran’s Paralympics. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_240460.html This study, employing an exploratory mixed-methods approach, identifies and prioritizes the key actors in the governance of elite sports in Iran. In the qualitative phase, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 19 experts and coded using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis framework. The results revealed four main categories of actors: governmental institutions, sports organizations, athletes and technical staff, and international organizations. In the quantitative phase, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied to the judgments of 25 experts to estimate the relative weights of these categories (all pairwise comparison matrices showed acceptable consistency with CR < 0.1). The findings indicated that governmental institutions (0.325) and international organizations (0.304) play the most significant roles in shaping governance, while sports organizations (0.225) and particularly athletes and technical staff (0.145) hold lesser weight. This pattern reflects a concentration of decision-making at domestic policy-making and transnational regulatory levels, alongside the marginalization of grassroots stakeholders. Accordingly, it is recommended to redefine the roles of actors, institutionalize the principles of transparency, accountability, and participation, revise statutes to strengthen the involvement of athletes and coaches in decision-making, establish independent evaluation mechanisms, and foster constructive engagement with international bodies. The novelty of this research lies in providing a systematic framework for mapping the actor network and assessing their priorities in the Iranian context, which can inform policy reforms and the design of practical governance interventions. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_241751.html The purpose of this study was to evaluate value-based educational initiatives and to design a professional development framework for young football coaches in Iran. The research employed a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design. In the first (qualitative) phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 experts in the field of football to identify the core values underlying coach education. In the second (quantitative) phase, a quasi-experimental five-group design was implemented to assess the effectiveness of four value-based programs—ethical leadership and integrity, psychological safety and supportiveness, autonomy support and mastery climate, and inclusion and cultural equality—compared with a control group. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. The findings indicated significant differences among the groups and across time (p < 0.001). The greatest impact was observed in the interventions focused on ethical leadership and psychological safety, which led to sustained improvements in coaching efficacy, mastery climate, and coach–athlete relationships. Thematic qualitative analysis identified these four main themes as the foundational pillars of coaches’ professional growth. Interpreted through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the results demonstrated that value-based programs, by fulfilling the fundamental psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, enhance intrinsic motivation and sustainable performance among coaches. Overall, the study presents an integrated ethical-oriented education model that can serve as an indigenous framework for developing the professional competence of young football coaches in Iran and guide policymakers, federations, and sports academies toward sustainable coaching development. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_241765.html Rewarm up has been proposed as a novel approach to reduce muscle injuries and improve athletic performance for some sports, such as football and rugby. The present study examined the effect of a rewarm up session on the physical performance indicators of rugby players. Thirty rugby athletes were randomly divided into two groups: a rewarming up and a control group. Tests included measurements of upper and lower body muscle strength, explosive power, 10-meter sprint, agility, and blood lactate levels. Tests were conducted before the game, after the first half, and at the end of the game for both groups. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with a significance level of p<0.05. Results showed that a single rewarm up session had no significant effect on muscle strength, speed, explosive power, agility, and blood lactate changes in rugby players (P>0.05). Despite the lack of positive impact of rewarm up on performance improvement and blood lactate changes, the use of rewarm up protocols is recommended to enhance player performance in the second half. Further research is needed to understand various aspects of this topic, including intensity, duration, and types of movements. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_241768.html The aim of this study was to explain the relationship of factors related to career plateauing among Iranian wrestling coaches. The research employed a mixed-method approach (qualitative-quantitative) within a sequential exploratory design. In the qualitative phase, thematic analysis was used, while the DEMATEL technique was applied in the quantitative phase. Participants included 14 individuals who were purposefully selected from Iranian wrestling coaches based on criteria such as work experience, coaching level, and accessibility. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and an 18×18 matrix. To evaluate the research's validity, Lincoln and Guba's (1985) criteria, including credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability, were utilized. The qualitative results identified 66 sub-themes and 18 main themes related to career plateauing. Quantitative findings revealed that factors influencing career plateauing were divided into two main categories: influencing factors and influenced factors. Influencing factors included work-life imbalance, rigid organizational structures, static policies, inefficient evaluation systems, and social pressures, which played key roles in causing career plateauing. Conversely, influenced factors such as organizational plateau, content plateau, personal plateau, coach cynicism, and negative job attitudes were primarily identified as outcomes of workplace conditions. The findings of this study can contribute to improving working conditions and reducing career plateauing among wrestling coaches. It is recommended that the wrestling federation, provincial boards, and clubs revise organizational structures and policies and focus on achieving a balance between work and life for coaches to mitigate these factors. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_243789.html Retirement marks a critical transition in the lives of professional and elite athletes, often involving complex challenges and adjustments. This study investigates and compares the support mechanisms available to champions and veteran athletes in six countries—the United States, China, Australia, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Iran—in order to identify both similarities and divergences. A comparative qualitative approach was employed, drawing on official policies, guidelines, scholarly articles, research projects, and digital sources. Data were analyzed using George Brady’s four-stage comparative model—description, interpretation, juxtaposition, and comparison—across three domains of support: enabling, nurturing, and valuing. Findings demonstrate that in the enabling domain, essential elements include comprehensive education, empowerment programs, preparation for post-career transitions, and access to medical, therapeutic, and financial services. The nurturing domain emphasizes social networks, community participation, association membership, and family education, while the valuing domain focuses on honoring retired athletes, utilizing their expertise, and assigning organizational or leadership roles. The results suggest that Iran shows relative strength in the valuing domain but faces considerable deficiencies in enabling and nurturing supports, where systematic, long-term strategies are lacking. To bridge these gaps, the study recommends developing an integrated information system, promoting social engagement, establishing specialized academies and athlete associations, and designing sustainable financial frameworks. Such initiatives could substantially improve post-career support for athletes in Iran. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_243970.html The aim of this study was to identify the conceptual dimensions of sports cleansing. The research method used was a narrative review. Data collection involved conducting repeated searches in Google Scholar to identify relevant publications in English. Also, the review focused on selecting scientific documents from articles published in reputable, peer-reviewed journals, using the search terms sports cleansing, strategies, motivations, actors, theories, and effectiveness; specifically, articles published from 2010 to 2025. A total of 39 articles were reviewed and analyzed. The results showed that sports cleansing is manifested through a variety of strategies. These tactics include hosting events, conducting investment-based initiatives, acquiring prominent clubs and players, and implementing branding or marketing efforts. The findings indicate that the results of using sports cleansing often include gains such as short-term legitimacy, which are accompanied by ongoing criticism and claims of inauthenticity. From geopolitical and economic perspectives, sports cleansing pursues goals such as national branding, crisis management, public opinion distortion, and influencing international discourse, and changes are observed in different regions and regimes. Finally, we conclude that the use of sports cleansing can lead to the destruction of the credibility and public trust in sports. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_245661.html This study aimed to identify the factors affecting talent identification in Paralympic sports in Iran. This qualitative study was conducted using a thematic analysis approach. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with 16 experts in Iran's Paralympic sports (including senior managers, coaches, elite athletes, international classifiers, and national team psychologists) who were selected through purposive sampling. The interview process continued until data adequacy was achieved. Coding reliability was confirmed using Cohen's Kappa coefficient (0.85). Data analysis led to the extraction of 247 initial codes, 42 basic themes, 14 sub-themes, and finally 6 main themes. The main themes included: (1) Athlete's individual characteristics (including physical and psychological characteristics); (2) Family and social contexts (including the role of family and socio-cultural contexts); (3) Infrastructure and support resources (including specialized facilities and equipment, and specialized human resources); (4) Management and governance system (including planning and systematization, financial resource provision, and inter-sectoral coordination); (5) Classification system and specialized guidance (including the scientific accuracy of classification and matching talent with sport and class); and (6) Macro strategies and consequences (including human resource empowerment, strategic development directions, and consequences of talent identification). The findings indicate that transforming the talent identification system in Iran's Paralympic sports requires a multidimensional and hierarchical approach in which reforming the management and governance system should serve as the main infrastructure, followed by targeted investment in physical infrastructure and specialized human resources, then attention to family and social contexts, and finally the institutionalization of scientific classification. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_246039.html Background and Objective: Sports injuries are highly prevalent in professional kickboxing. This study aimed to investigate the predictive role of functional (FMS) and demographic factors (age, sex, injury history, training history, height, weight) on the occurrence and severity of injuries in elite Iranian kickboxing athletes. Methods: Seventy-two professional athletes (45 men, 27 women) in youth (18–25 years) and adult (26–35 years) categories were followed prospectively for six months. In the pre-season phase, FMS scores (range 0–21), demographic characteristics, and prior injury history were recorded. Injury was defined as any training- or competition-related event leading to at least one missed session. Injury severity was categorized based on time loss into three levels: mild (1–3 days), moderate (4–14 days), and severe (>14 days). Injuries were documented using the standard Australian Sports Injury Questionnaire (with established validity and reliability). Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression (for injury occurrence) and ordinal logistic regression (for injury severity). Results: Injury prevalence was 65.2%. FMS score (OR=0.70, p=0.008), body weight (OR=1.04, p=0.032), and previous injury history (OR=3.52, p<0.001) were significant predictors of injury occurrence. For injury severity, FMS score (OR=0.76, p=0.027) and previous injury history (OR=3.14, p=0.001) were significant. These effects were stronger in men and adults, while non-significant trends were observed in women and youth. Conclusion: Low FMS score, higher body weight, and previous injury history are the strongest predictors of injury in Iranian kickboxing. Pre-season FMS screening, weight management, and complete rehabilitation of prior injuries are recommended to reduce injury risk. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_247039.html The purpose of this study is to explore and historically analyze the presence of Iran’s elite female athletes across different editions of the Olympic Games, based on cultural and supportive changes. The research method was descriptive–analytical and grounded in historical studies. Assuming a direct influence of women’s sport development from social transformations and supportive policies, this study examined two main indicators—participation level (number of athletes and participating sports) and medal achievement (number and type of medals won)—before and after the year 2000. The pre–new millennium period represents the early stages of Iranian women’s entry into the Olympic arena under cultural and structural constraints, whereas the post-2000 period reflects efforts to adapt to international standards and an increase in infrastructural support. The results showed that, following the rise in quota numbers and sport diversity after 2000, medal achievement grew with a steeper upward trend. Analysis of the findings indicated that the roots of these differences lie in cultural factors (such as changing public attitudes and the facilitation of social participation) and supportive factors (such as federation investments, access to high-level training facilities, and government financial support). Accordingly, it is suggested that sports policymakers focus on sustainable financial support, strengthening specialized infrastructure for women's sports, enhancing media coverage, targeted support for medal events, and promoting a general culture of women's sports participation, to pave the way for the continuation and acceleration of this trend in future international events. https://journal.olympic.ir/article_247044.html This study aims to investigate the role of digital transformation management in achieving the sustainability of sporting events and to develop a corresponding model. Employing a grounded theory approach, the research was conducted through semi-structured interviews with 12 sports management experts and the analysis of 400 valid scientific documents. Findings revealed that digital transformation is influenced by multiple factors, categorized as barriers (including organizational resistance and regulatory frameworks) and facilitators (including transformational leadership and smart investment). Key identified strategies were grouped into three main categories: smart technologies (comprising IoT, AI, and VR), process optimization (including integrated management and consumption optimization), and digital engagement (encompassing fan-centric approaches and accessibility). These strategies lead to sustainability outcomes across multiple dimensions, extending beyond traditional economic, social, and environmental aspects to include emerging dimensions such as security-ethical sustainability, human resource sustainability, and health sustainability. The study ultimately presents a comprehensive model, concluding that digital transformation management represents a strategic shift from traditional event management toward an intelligent and sustainable sports ecosystem, serving as a practical roadmap for Iranian sports managers and policymakers.