Nairobi to Host World Athletics Championships in 2029

Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, becoming the first African city to stage the sport's premier global track and field event.

The Kenyan capital was chosen ahead of rival bids from London, Munich and Rome, while Munich was awarded the 2031 championships following a World Athletics Council meeting in Budapest, Hungary.

The 2027 World Athletics Championships have already been awarded to Beijing, meaning the next three editions will be staged across Asia, Africa and Europe.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said the council faced a difficult decision after receiving four strong bids for the 2029 and 2031 championships.

Coe described Nairobi's successful proposal as a significant milestone for athletics in Africa and said the decision reflected the strength of the city's bid.

"Taking our championships to Africa for the first time will be historic," Coe said, adding that Nairobi had presented a strong case for hosting the event and creating a lasting sporting legacy.

He said the championships could help accelerate the development of athletics in Kenya and across the wider African continent.

Kenya has a long history of success in distance running and has previously hosted several major international athletics events. The country hosted the 2007 World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, the 2017 World Under-18 Championships and the 2021 World Under-20 Championships, both in Nairobi.

The capital also hosted the 2010 African Athletics Championships.

Nairobi previously bid unsuccessfully to host the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Coe said the experience had helped the city's organising team strengthen its latest proposal.

A key element of the successful bid is the redevelopment of Nairobi's Kasarani Stadium, which is undergoing a major renovation ahead of its planned role in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Coe said the Nairobi team had returned to the bidding process with a stronger proposal and demonstrated that the city was prepared to take on the responsibility of hosting the world's leading athletics championships.

The 2029 event will mark the first time the World Athletics Championships have been held on African soil, adding a new continent to the event's hosting history.