The rapid development of virtual reality (VR) technology has introduced innovative possibilities for the digital preservation and dissemination of sports culture. This study explores the value and implementation pathways of VR technology in sports culture exhibitions by analyzing three representative cases: ancient Cuju, modern basketball, and contemporary skiing. It demonstrates how VR’s characteristics of immersion, interactivity, and hyperreality can dynamically showcase the historical evolution and technical essence of sports culture. The findings reveal that VR technology, through realistic virtual scenes, dynamic timeline designs, and multi-sensory interactions, provides audiences with a deeply engaging experience that surpasses traditional exhibition formats, significantly enhancing the reach and cultural identity of sports dissemination. Additionally, the study identifies challenges such as hardware compatibility and user experience optimization in current VR applications. It suggests that future research should focus on the integration of VR with artificial intelligence and multi-sensory technologies to further enhance the immersion and personalization of cultural exhibitions. This research offers innovative theoretical and practical support for the digital preservation and global dissemination of sports culture.