Nairobi, Kenya, will make history in 2029 by becoming the first African city to host the World Athletics Championships, following a decision by the sport’s governing body to reject London’s bid for the prestigious event.
The announcement was made Tuesday, September 15, after a two-day meeting of the World Athletics Council in Budapest, Hungary. Munich, Germany, was also selected to host the 2031 championships, beating competing bids from London and Rome.
The decisions mean the next three editions of the global athletics showcase will be staged across Asia, Africa and Europe. Beijing will host the 2027 championships, followed by Nairobi in 2029 and Munich in 2031.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described Nairobi’s proposal as “a compelling and emotional bid”, saying the decision to take the championships to Africa represented a significant milestone for the sport.
“We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the council,” Coe said.
“With this decision today, we continue to fulfil our mission of growing athletics worldwide with the hosting of our World Athletics Championships in Asia, Africa and Europe over its next three editions.”
He added that Nairobi had demonstrated that it was ready to deliver the championships at the right time and under the right circumstances.
“Taking the World Athletics Championships to Africa for the first time will be historic,” Coe said. “Nairobi has demonstrated emphatically that this is their moment.”
The decision is a major achievement for Kenya, a country renowned for producing some of the world’s finest distance runners and ranked as the second-most successful nation in World Athletics Championships history.
Kenyan athletes have established a formidable reputation in middle- and long-distance running, with stars such as two-time Olympic champion Kipchoge Keino and multiple Olympic and world champion Faith Kipyegon helping to shape the nation’s athletics identity.
Kenyan President William Ruto welcomed the announcement, describing it as a victory for the country and the wider continent.
“This is Kenya’s moment, Africa’s moment and a victory for generations of athletes who made our nation synonymous with excellence on the track, on the road and cross country,” Ruto said.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya, also hailed the successful bid.
“We accept this honour and want to promise the global community that Kenya will continue to be a home of champions in matters of athletics,” Mvurya said.
“The world will come to a country where running is more than a competition; it’s our national story, and every generation believes that the next world champion can emerge from it.”
Nairobi’s successful bid follows an unsuccessful attempt to secure the 2025 championships, which were ultimately awarded to Tokyo, Japan. The Kenyan capital returned with a stronger proposal, supported by plans to upgrade the Kasarani Stadium.
The stadium, which has a renovated capacity of approximately 48,000, is being overhauled ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. It has previously hosted major athletics competitions, including the 2017 World Youth Championships and the 2021 World Athletics Under-20 Championships.
The 2029 championships will mark the first time the senior World Athletics Championships are held on African soil, representing a major step in the continent’s efforts to attract and stage more global sporting events.
