Analysis of the relationship between traditional sports integration in the digital age: bridging cultural preservation and modern innovation in Inland Papua

Introduction and Objective. This research examines the relationship between the preservation of traditional sports culture and the integration of digital technology as a bridge to modern innovation, focusing on the context of inland Papua. Methodology. The approach used is quantitative, supported by VOS-viewer and SmartPLS 4 software. Data were obtained from the Scopus database for the period 2010–2025, using four main keywords: Preservation of Sports Culture (120 documents), Integration of Digital Technology in Sport (185 documents), Younger Generation Interest in Sport (51 documents), and Social Impact of Sport (1,228 documents). Data visualization was carried out using VOSviewer, while in-depth analysis utilized the SEM-PLS method using SmartPLS 4. Results. The results of the external loading analysis showed an improvement in construct validity after eliminating invalid indicators. The instrument's discriminant validity and reliability were also satisfactorily achieved. The overall model fit showed a GoF value of 0.856, which is classified as strong. The R² showed that Digital Technology Integration was able to explain 78.3% of the related variables, and Younger Generation Interest 62.3%. The path coefficient reveals that Cultural Preservation has a significant effect on Digital Technology Integration, and digital technology also has an effect on Younger Generation Interest. In contrast, Presentation Innovation did not show any significant effect. Conclusions. The research concludes that digital technology plays a strategic role as an interactive bridge between culture and new generations. Cultural preservation combined with digital technology is more effective than mere presentation innovation. The participation of local communities and the adaptation of digital content to cultural values are the keys to successful cultural transformation in the digital age.