02034nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001653001000042653000800052653001400060653001000074653001300084653002200097653001500119653002100134653002500155653001000180100001500190700001600205245010600221856015200327490000700479520130600486                                       d10aChina10aGIS10aGuangdong10aHebei10aZhejiang10acultural heritage10aInnovation10aspatial analysis10aSpatial distribution10asport1 aWenhai Kou1 aJiahao Zhai00aSpatial distribution patterns and influencing factors of sports intangible cultural heritage in China  uhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105002085015&doi=10.3389%2ffeart.2025.1556652&partnerID=40&md5=7d1b27e7b867f13ed184bc06e6af35690 v133 aAs an integral component of China’s intangible cultural heritage (ICH), sports intangible cultural heritage (SICH) holds immense significance and importance in cultural inheritance, social cohesion, health promotion, values education, cultural innovation. However, the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of SICH have not been extensively explored. Therefore, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the spatial patterns and influencing factors of SICH utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis methods such as geographic concentration index and kernel density estimation. The results reveal that SICH exhibits a spatially clustered distribution, with the highest concentrations in Hebei, Guangdong, and Zhejiang provinces. Notably, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Yangtze River Delta region are identified as areas with particularly high densities of SICH. The analysis of natural and human factors indicates that altitude, climate, rivers, GDP, and population density significantly influence the distribution of SICH, while the presence of core cities does not have a notable impact. This research provides valuable insights into the spatial distribution patterns of SICH and offers a foundation for future preservation and promotion strategies.