Identifying the Consequences of Sustainable Development in Professional Sports in Iraq

Authors

    Ali Harith Ibrahim Al-Hayali PhD Student, Department of Sports Management, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
    Kebria Eghbali * Assistant Professor, Department of Sport Sciences, West Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. kebriaeghbali94@gmail.com
    Saif Harith Ibrahim Assistant Professor, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Diyala, Iraq.
    Davood Nasr Esfahani Assistant Professor, Department of Sports Management, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

Keywords:

Sustainable development, professional sports, Iraq, consequences, grounded theory

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the consequences of sustainable development in professional sports in Iraq using a qualitative grounded theory approach. This qualitative study employed the systematic grounded theory method (Strauss & Corbin). The statistical population consisted of experts and specialists in the field of professional sports development in Iraq. Fourteen participants were selected using purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding in NVivo software. The analysis resulted in five main categories: economic function, healthy society, infrastructural function, socio-cultural function, and sports tourism development. Key consequences identified include reduced financial dependence on government budgets, increased national gross domestic product, enhanced public health, expanded infrastructure, improved female participation, and growth of the sports tourism industry. Sustainable development in Iraq's professional sports extends beyond athletic performance and functions as an interdisciplinary driver for strengthening social capital, diversifying national income, enhancing public well-being, and improving the country's international standing.

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Published

2025-07-05

Submitted

2025-02-19

Revised

2025-04-09

Accepted

2025-05-01

Issue

Section

مقالات

How to Cite

Eghbali, K. ., Ibrahim, S. H. ., & Nasr Esfahani, D. . (2025). Identifying the Consequences of Sustainable Development in Professional Sports in Iraq. Management, Education and Development in Digital Age, 2(2), 67-77. https://jmedda.com/jmedda/article/view/197

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