Chapter 11: Unraveling Iran’s Sport Landscape in the Shadow of Political Control

This chapter examines the intricate power dynamics within Iran’s sport landscape, shaped by the regulatory reach of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Drawing on Foucault’s concepts of power relations, it explores how the state leverages sport as a governance tool, seeking to assert control over both organizational structures and individual actions. Through exercising power, the government employs sport as a mechanism to consolidate political legitimacy both domestically and internationally. Yet, within these constraints, Iranian athletes, coaches, and fans engage in forms of resistance, using sport not only as physical engagement but also as a medium for personal empowerment and community transformation. This chapter reveals how sport in Iran becomes a site of both control and resistance, reflecting a broader social struggle within a tightly regulated environment.