Identification and Prioritization of Barriers to the Development of Swimming in Kerman Province According to Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)

The aim of the current study was to identify and prioritize barriers to the development of swimming in Kerman province according to Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Research method was applied and in terms of data collection, it was a field study. The population consisted of 101 managers, coaches and athletes with swimming history in Kerman province. A researcher-made questionnaire about barriers of swimming development in Kerman province was designed after interviews with sport experts and managers. The results showed that factors such as lack of importance to swimming in schools, lack of efficient planners and proper planning at macro level, failure to attract sponsors to financially support swimming, lack of support from the media to promote swimming and lack of standard training and competition pools were considered as important internal barriers to the development of swimming in Kerman province. Also, among six main factors, management and planning barriers were taken into consideration as the main factor hindering the development of swimming. It seems that swimming can improve in Kerman province through proper planning, employing qualified individuals for talent identification of elementary school children, building a relationship with private and state organizations for financial support, operating competitions and inviting the media to encourage people to participate in swimming and running different meetings with officials of Sport and Youth Organization and subsequently the Ministry of Sport and Youth to construct standard water facilities.