Architecture of the rule of gender diversity in the Iranian championship

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to design a conceptual model for the gender diversity governance architecture in Iran’s elite sports system. This qualitative research was conducted using the thematic analysis method. The statistical population included experts in the fields of elite sports management, sports policymaking, gender studies, and governance. Based on purposive sampling, 17 senior sports managers, faculty members, and relevant professionals were selected. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and, following transcription, were analyzed in three stages. To enhance the validity of the findings, strategies such as member checking, peer review, and theoretical saturation were employed. The data analysis led to the identification of themes categorized into six overarching themes: institutional architecture of gender governance, system of organizational transparency and accountability, gender empowerment and capacity building, cultural transformation of governance, policymaking and supportive institutional environment, and participatory and network governance. The findings indicated that the issue of gender diversity in Iran’s elite sports is not solely limited to the number of women in managerial positions; rather, it depends on power distribution, decision-making mechanisms, organizational culture, evaluation systems, and stakeholder interactions. Accordingly, the realization of gender governance requires a systemic and multi-level approach that simultaneously pursues institutional structural reform, human capital development, transparency enhancement, and policy support. The conceptual model derived from this research provides an analytical framework for understanding and redesigning gender diversity governance mechanisms in Iran’s elite sports system and serves as a foundation for future policymaking.