Nairobi to Host Historic 2029 World Athletics Championships

Nairobi has been confirmed as the host city for the 2029 World Athletics Championships, as announced by World Athletics during a council meeting in Budapest. This will be the first occasion an African city has hosted the championships.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe noted that the decision was challenging, with four strong bids for 2029 and 2031. He emphasized that Nairobi's bid was both compelling and emotional, marking a historic moment for athletics in Africa.

London, which proposed the London Stadium as its venue, was unsuccessful, with Jack Buckner, CEO of UK Athletics and co-founder of Athletic Ventures, expressing disappointment over the outcome. He acknowledged the support from various stakeholders in the UK bid.

Additionally, Rome was another unsuccessful bidder for the 2029 championships. World Athletics also announced that Munich will host the 2031 championships.

Nairobi had previously bid for the 2025 championships but lost to Tokyo. The Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi is undergoing renovations in preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027, enhancing its suitability as a host venue.