Dr. Fariba Mohammadi: At the First International Conference on Peace and Sport Demand for research on the relationship between peace components and sport remains limited / Necessity of expanding the scientific discourse on sport and peace

Dr. Fariba Mohammadi, President of the Institute of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, emphasized the role of research in promoting the discourse of peace, saying: “Research into the relationship between sport and peace remains limited and needs to be developed.”

According to the Public Relations Office , Dr. Mohammadi, speaking at the International Conference on “Peace and Sport,” stated that “research is the foundation for expanding the peace discourse in sport.” She noted that the demand for research linking peace-related components with sport is still restricted, and only a small portion of the nation’s scientific projects directly address this subject.

In her presentation titled “Research Foundations for Development of Peace and Sport Components,” Mohammadi explained that the Institute of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, as a leading academic institution in the field of sport sciences, is committed to contributing to the valuable discourse on peace and sport. In recent years, groups of researchers from the institute have analyzed the cultural, ethical, and social aspects of peace in sport through targeted projects and expert meetings.

Highlighting the institute’s extensive academic background, Mohammadi stated: “Over 27 years of activity, more than 440 research projects have been implemented across areas such as sport science development, elite sport, public health, and educational sport, and 121 scientific and specialized books have been published.” She mentioned key works such as the “Philosophy of Sport in the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the “Ethical Charter for the Sports Community,” the “Model for Heroic Character Development,” and the “Volunteer Movement in Sport.”

She emphasized that the diversity of research topics has always been aligned with the needs of relevant institutions and organizations. Since 2014, the institute’s focus has shifted from individual-based research toward applied and problem-oriented studies, allowing research findings to be directly utilized in policymaking and implementation. Mohammadi added: “Although there has been little direct demand for peace-oriented studies from executive bodies, the intellectual and ethical foundations of some projects have aimed to promote empathy, fairness, and peaceful behaviors within sport.”

The institute president noted that approximately 3–4% of the institute’s research projects are directly related to peace components in sport. “This figure indicates less a weakness than a gap in discourse and demand in this field,” she said, “which can quickly grow through awareness-raising and promoting a research-oriented approach.”

She further announced that research priorities will be revised in 2026, adding thematic areas such as sustainable sport development, diplomacy and intercultural peace, social innovation, and new sport technologies. This expansion will enable researchers to play a more influential role in human development and social peace.

In another part of her remarks, Mohammadi referred to her international academic collaboration: “Over the past five years, I have served as an Iranian researcher and member of the Medical and Sport Sciences Commission of the International Paralympic Committee. My collaboration in international scientific projects has shown that values such as friendship, respect, and empathy are the core foundations for building peace through science and sport.”

She concluded by emphasizing the need to connect science, ethics, and peace, stating: “The more research advances toward human development, sports justice, and peaceful conduct, the more humane and elevated our sporting community will become.