The rapid growth of the elderly population is one of the most important public health challenges in the world. Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining health, functional independence, and quality of life of the elderly. The present study investigated the mediating role of age perception in the relationship between visual and auditory cues of the sports environment and elderly participation in physical activity.

This was a cross-sectional descriptive-correlational study. The research sample included 408 elderly people aged 60 and older living in Khuzestan province who were selected through purposive and accessible sampling. Data collection tools included researcher-made visual and auditory cues questionnaires, Barker et al.'s Age Perception Questionnaire (2007), and Scanlan et al.'s Sport Commitment Questionnaire (2016). The data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, hierarchical regression, and structural equation modeling.

The findings indicated positive and significant relationships between visual cues, auditory cues, age perception, and sports participation. Both types of environmental cues significantly predicted age perception, and age perception also had a positive effect on sports participation. Age perception played a partial mediator role for visual cues and a full mediator for auditory cues. The final structural model had a good fit and explained a significant portion of the variance of the variables.

This study showed that visually appealing and aurally pleasant spaces can create a more positive perception of age and increase the participation of older adults in physical activity. Such low-cost environmental interventions are considered an effective strategy for promoting active aging.