Explanation and Prioritization of Barriers to Privatization and Private Sector Participation in Sport Development

The aim of this study was to explain and prioritize the barriers facing privatization of sports in Iran. First، complementary data were gathered، coded and analyzed through the review of the theoretical bases، comparative studies and deep semi–structured interviews with experts in order to identify the barriers facing privatization of sports. After identifying the barriers، the obtained variables were ranked in four categories of economic، social – cultural، political – legal، and managerial barriers and 40 components. First، the barriers were ranked using academic experts'' viewpoints and AHP method. Then، using descripitve research method and inferential statistics، they and their 40 components were ranked using the researcher-made questionnaire distributed among executive managers. The results showed that the main barriers facing sport privatization respectively were managerial، cultural - social، political – legal and economic from the viewpoints of the academic experts، and managerial، cultural - social، economic and political – legal according to the executive managers'' viewpoints. From the perspectives of executive managerss، indirect competition of government with the private sector، managers'' resistance to the reduction of government''s operations due to their dependence on the public sector، the lack of investment security in Iran and the government''s use of sport as a political tool were the most important managerial، cultural - social، economic and political – legal barriers facing privatization of sport in Iran.