Fatemeh Behroz Damirchi - Student of sports Facilities Management, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
Abbas Naghizadeh-Baghi - Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
Mehrdad Moharramzadeh - Professor of Sport Management, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

Introduction: Sports venues are considered as the most basic part in the field of physical education and sports and an important part of the facilities of human organizations (Shokouhi, ۲۰۱۳). The place chosen for the construction of sports spaces should be easily accessible to all segments of the population (Mozaffari, ۲۰۱۴). The purpose of this study is to investigate the accessibility of sports places in Ardabil. Method: This study was a descriptive and field study. The population consisted of all sporting places in Ardabil and the sample size was calculated as a whole. Using statistical models available in ArcGIS ۱۰.۴ software and using the network analysis method and Thiessen polygons, the desirability of access to Ardabil sports centers was examined. Results: The results of both network analysis and Thyssen showed that the central areas of Ardabilcity due to the greater concentration of sports centers in these areas have a good level of access and are covered by the services of these centers. However, the surrounding areas of the city, especially the southern and northern areas, are facing poor access due to the lack of sports facilities. Discussion: Goodarzi et al. (۲۰۱۲) in Boroujerd and Ahmari (۲۰۰۹) in Tehran showed that both cities are very suitable in terms of people's access to sports venues. Sultan Hosseini et al. (۲۰۱۲) showed that areas ۵ and ۶ of Isfahan are desirable in terms of people's access to sports venues. The results of this part of the study are inconsistent with the findings of Ahmari (۲۰۰۹) in Tehran, Goodarzi et al. (۲۰۱۲) in Boroujerd and Sultan Hosseini et al. (۲۰۱۲) in areas ۵ and ۶ of Isfahan, but with the findings of Hosseini (۲۰۱۳) in the city of Saqqez and Hajalizadeh et al.(۲۰۱۲) in Kahnoj are also compatible. Conclusion: For the southern and northern areas of Ardabil, in proportion to the population, it is necessary to plan and locate new sports centers so that the residents of these areas have access to sports facilities at the lowest cost and time.

Sporting Places, desirability of access, Ardabil