Policy Report on Social Return on Investment in Sport Authored by Dr. Fahimeh Mohammad Hasan, Faculty Member of the SSRI

The specialized policy report “Measuring Sport Sector Investment Returns through Social Benefits and Healthy Lifestyle Indicators” has been published by the Islamic Parliament Research Center, authored by Dr. Fahimeh Mohammad Hasan, faculty member of the Institute of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, in collaboration with Dr. Reza Shajee and under the supervision of Dr. Ali Tajbakhsh.

According to the Public Relations Office of the SSRI, the report was prepared by the Educational, Cultural, and Social Research Group of the Islamic Parliament Research Center. Based on the findings, the Social Return on Investment (SROI) rate in Iran’s sport sector is estimated at approximately 3.2 — meaning that for every 1,000 tomans invested, around 3,200 tomans in social value are generated.

This index demonstrates that investment in sport yields substantial returns not only in the field of health but also across economic, social, and cultural dimensions.

The study’s results provide a management tool for evaluating the effectiveness of sports programs, optimizing resource allocation, and designing policy frameworks to support sport development.

Key legislative and policy recommendations include:

    Integrating sport into the national public health system

    Allocating a percentage of the Ministry of Health’s annual budget to public sport programs

    Introducing tax incentives to encourage private sector investment

    Establishing a Sports Investment Guarantee Fund with cooperation from the Central Bank and private sector

    Reducing customs tariffs on certified sports equipment

    Granting tax exemptions for sports projects in underprivileged regions

Additionally, the report outlines several supervisory and strategic policy approaches designed to enhance the efficiency of sport investments, reinforcing sport as a vital component of the national economy.