History Made: Kenya to Host 2029 World Athletics Championships in African First

Kenya has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, becoming the first African country to stage the senior global competition since the championships were established more than four decades ago.

World Athletics confirmed Nairobi as the host city on Tuesday following a meeting of its Council in Budapest, handing Kenya one of the biggest sporting events ever awarded to the continent.

Nairobi secured the 2029 championships after competing against established European sporting destinations including London, Rome and Munich. Munich was subsequently awarded the 2031 edition.

The decision means the World Athletics Championships will be staged in Africa for the first time since the inaugural competition was held in Helsinki, Finland, in 1983.

Nairobi Breaks New Ground for Africa

The announcement represents a major milestone for a continent that has produced some of athletics’ most successful competitors but has never hosted the senior World Championships.

Kenya, in particular, has built an international reputation through decades of success in middle- and long-distance running, producing numerous Olympic and world champions.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described Kenya as one of the world’s leading athletics nations and said taking the championships to Africa for the first time represented a historic development for the sport.

The successful bid also gives Kenya an opportunity to demonstrate that African cities can compete with established destinations in Europe, Asia and North America for the right to stage major international sporting competitions.

Kasarani Expected to Take Centre Stage

Nairobi’s Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, is expected to serve as the main venue for the championships.

The stadium is already undergoing improvements as Kenya prepares to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

Those preparations could prove important ahead of 2029, with international athletics competitions requiring extensive facilities for athletes, officials, broadcasters, spectators and supporting personnel.

Beyond the stadium itself, Nairobi will also have to demonstrate its readiness in areas including transportation, accommodation, security, medical services and event management.

With three years until the championships, preparations are likely to become an important test of Kenya’s ability to convert its successful bid into a well-organised global sporting event.

Kenya Has Hosted Global Athletics Before

Although 2029 will mark Kenya’s first senior World Athletics Championships, Nairobi is not new to hosting international athletics.

The Kenyan capital staged the World Under-18 Championships in 2017 and the World Under-20 Championships in 2021.

Kenya has also hosted other major athletics competitions, including the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa in 2007, while Nairobi regularly stages international meetings such as the Kip Keino Classic.

That experience is likely to have strengthened Nairobi’s bid by providing World Athletics with evidence of Kenya’s capacity to organise international competitions.

Kenya had previously attempted to secure the 2025 World Athletics Championships, but that edition was awarded to Tokyo.

Its successful 2029 bid therefore represents the culmination of a longer effort to bring the senior championships to the country.

Nairobi Beats Strong European Competition

Nairobi’s selection is particularly significant given the strength of the cities competing for the championships.

London previously hosted the World Athletics Championships in 2017 and staged the Olympic Games in 2012, while Rome and Munich also have extensive experience organising major international sporting events.

Despite that competition, World Athletics selected Nairobi for 2029, while Munich was awarded the championships two years later.

The decision creates an international sequence for the competition, with Beijing hosting in 2027, Nairobi in 2029 and Munich in 2031.

For World Athletics, the Nairobi championships will also provide an opportunity to expand the geographical reach of its flagship competition.