Analysis of the social capital status of Iranian sports (Case study of sports elites)

The purpose of this study was a qualitative study of the social capital status of Iranian sports (a case study of sports elites). The method of the present study was qualitative and exploratory. The statistical population of the study included national athletes who have a history of winning medals in the Asian, World and Olympic Games. The sampling method was non-probabilistic sampling, with purposeful selection and with maximum variability or heterogeneity. The sample size in this study was 16 people. The interview measurement tool was open and was analyzed based on three stages of open, axial and selective coding. Based on the coding of the first stage, 109 open source codes were identified through review of interviews with experts. Also, the results showed that causal factors of the central codes (existence of behavioral capacity, normative synergy, individual factors and socialization factors) Underlying factors (environmental compatibility, appropriate infrastructure and contexts, values and norms, relationships and interpersonal trust), intervention factors (lifestyle, social mobility, professionalization of athletes, motivation), strategies (association relations, Financial and economic factors, support, effective strategies) and finally the consequences (social consequences, quadruple development of educational levels, improving the health index in the community, personal outcomes).