Utilizing sports heritage as a strategic instrument to delineate and represent socio-cultural and economic patterns can establish innovative infrastructures within the framework of heritage-based sports tourism. Identifying appropriate indicators for the development of sports tourism constitutes one of the most fundamental stages in the process of planning and policymaking. This applied-exploratory study was conducted using a qualitative methodology based on the systematic approach of Strauss and Corbin. The target population comprised experts, academics, managers, and policymakers in the fields of sports tourism and cultural heritage. A total of 14 in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data were analyzed through a three-stage coding process: open, axial, and selective coding. Qualitative analysis yielded 220 open codes, which were subsequently organized into 25 axial codes and five primary paradigm categories. Causal conditions were identified as socio-cultural, political-security, economic-service, managerial-structural, geo-environmental, and technological factors. Contextual conditions encompassed the cultural structure of society, macro-level policymaking, service frameworks, tourism management, geopolitical factors, and tourism technologies. Intervening conditions included societal attitudes, legal and regulatory challenges, tourism infrastructure, environmental interventions, and limited technological access. Proposed strategies involved social development, tourism policymaking, economic expansion, the development of tourism sites, and the enhancement of environmental regulations. Furthermore, the identified consequences included the revitalization of indigenous and regional heritage, economic sustainability, and environmental livability. The research findings indicate that sports tourism in Iran is a multidimensional phenomenon influenced by dynamic interactions among various components. Among these, socio-cultural factors—reflecting the vast potential of Iran’s cultural and sports heritage—were identified as the primary drivers and key potentials. The paradigm model developed in this study, while providing a comprehensive framework for the understanding and advancement of sports tourism alongside the preservation of cultural heritage, effectively reflects the unique characteristics of the Iranian context.