Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Sport Management, University of Eyvanekey, Eyvanekey, Iran.
2 Associate professor in sport management, physical education department, Humanities faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Physical Education Instruction, Farhangian University, Shahid Chamran Campus, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: In elite sport, good governance is widely recognized as a foundation for legitimacy, effectiveness, and sustainable development. Within the context of Iranian sport, persistent issues such as centralized decision-making, insufficient transparency, weak institutional accountability, and limited stakeholder engagement have underscored the urgency of governance reform. This study aimed to identify and prioritize the core structural elements of good governance in Iran's elite sport using an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach.
Methods: In the qualitative phase, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 19 experts in sport governance and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-step thematic analysis model. In the quantitative phase, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied using Expert Choice software to determine the relative weight of governance components. The same experts participated in both phases.
Results: The thematic analysis revealed ten essential governance elements: transparency, accountability, stakeholder participation, rule of law, responsibility, anti-corruption, independent monitoring and evaluation, efficiency, ethical conduct, and equitable resource distribution. The AHP results ranked transparency (0.103), accountability (0.109), and stakeholder participation (0.124) as the top priorities. The consistency ratio (CR) for all pairwise comparisons was below 0.1, indicating strong reliability.
Conclusion: The findings highlight that achieving effective governance in elite sport in Iran requires prioritizing participatory, transparent, and accountable mechanisms. Strengthening these core elements can enhance organizational legitimacy, optimize decision-making processes, and align governance practices with international standards.
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