Strategic Positioning of Sports Diplomacy Capacities for Sustainable Development

The purpose of this research was to identify strategic positioning of sports diplomacy capacities for sustainable development. The research population included professional athletes and coaches; who had experience working at international sports levels. The sample was selected via availability methods (146 individuals). Data collection was conducted through a researcher-made questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SWOT matrix. Five professors confirmed the validity of the questionnaire, and its reliability was determined by Cronbach's alpha value of 0.89, indicating the high reliability. The results revealed that the strategic position of sports diplomacy capacities for sustainable development is in the WT quadrant, indicating that the most appropriate strategies that can be applied are defensive ones. Accordingly, respective planners and decision-makers in sports, especially policy-makers, should consider appropriate strategies to improve Iranian sports diplomacy capacities, leading to a more sustainable development.

Strategic Positioning of Sports Diplomacy Capacities for Sustainable Development Keywords:

Diplomatic Capacities , Sports , Strategic Position , Sustainable Development