The Role of Mass Media in Sport Development

Sport development is a step towards the development of Iran. Mass media are important tools for sport development which can contribute to achieve sport goals. The aim of this survey was to investigate the role of mass media in sport development. The method used in this study was descriptive، field and survey. A questionnaire was designed in five sport development dimensions. The validity and reliability of questionnaire were confirmed and then distributed among 342 subjects of the sample (in four groups: media managers، media experts، sport managers، sport experts) from 560 media and sport experts as the statistical population of the study. The results showed a significant difference between existing and desired condition in subjects’ viewpoints on the effect of mass media on sport development in all five dimensions (α≤0. 05). It can be concluded that mass media play an undeniable role in sport development; they improve variables of sport development through their nature and finally develop sport.