Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, marking the first time the event will be held in Africa. The Kenyan capital beat bids from London and Rome, with World Athletics President Sebastian Coe calling the decision historic.
The World Athletics Council confirmed Nairobi’s selection during its meeting in Budapest, with the 2029 event set to take place at the renovated Kasarani Stadium. Munich was awarded the 2031 championships, returning the event to Germany for the third time.
The Bid Process and Competitors
Nairobi’s victory came after a competitive bidding process that included London, Rome, and Munich. The Kenyan capital had previously attempted to host the 2025 championships, which were awarded to Tokyo. This time, Nairobi presented a compelling and emotional bid, according to Coe, emphasizing Kenya’s deep connection to athletics.
London’s bid faced challenges, including disputes over stadium availability and concerns about fan engagement. Jack Buckner, CEO of UK Athletics, acknowledged the disappointment but vowed to continue pursuing major events. Jack Buckner stated that the world’s athletes love competing here.
London’s submission faced several challenges, not least a dispute with West Ham United over the availability of the stadium during the football season, but campaign leaders felt that a compromise had been reached and there was confidence in their case. Lord Coe, the World Athletics president, who brought the London 2012 Olympic Games to the London Stadium, confirmed the decision. Munich and Rome also sought to host in 2029 and the former was instead awarded the championships in 2031.
Nairobi to host 2029 World Athletics Championships in African
Coe said the decision was made across multiple parameters, notably the growth potential of athletics, and stressed that Kenya understood and grasped
what was required after their failed effort in 2025. Sebastian Coe noted that having four outstanding bids leads to heightened and elevated levels of disappointment, said Coe, who refused to say whether the West Ham situation or the sight of empty seats at the recent European Championships in Birmingham had influenced the decision.
The 2029 event will follow the 2027 championships in Beijing and precede Munich’s 2031 edition. Both will take place in September, aligning with the global athletics calendar’s peak season. The decision is a major moment for African athletics, with Coe highlighting Nairobi’s extraordinary fan engagement and the historic significance of bringing the championships to Africa for the first time.
Why Nairobi?
Kenya is one of the great athletics nations. The sport is woven into the fabric of the country,” he stated, as reported by Reuters.
The decision also reflects World Athletics’ strategy to expand the event’s global reach. Sebastian Coe stated that the organization continues to fulfill its mission of growing athletics worldwide by hosting the World Athletics Championships in Asia, Africa, and Europe over the next three editions.
Challenges and Altitude Considerations
Nairobi to host World Athletics Championships in 2029, a
Nairobi’s high-altitude location—1,700 meters above sea level—poses unique challenges for endurance events. Swedish outlet SVT noted that athletes may face difficulties in disciplines like long-distance running, though the city’s experience hosting events like the World U18 Championships bolstered its case.
Despite these concerns, World Athletics emphasized Nairobi’s readiness. According to the Times of India, the improvements strengthened Nairobi’s case and provided confidence in its ability to host a major international sporting event.
Reactions and Next Steps
UK Athletics expressed disappointment but remained committed to future bids. Jack Buckner stated that Athletic Ventures has the ambition to bring those events here.
The 2029 event will follow the 2027 championships in Beijing and precede Munich’s 2031 edition. Both will take place in September, aligning with the global athletics calendar’s peak season. Munich will host the 2031 event at the Olympic Stadium, bringing the championships back to Germany for the first time since Berlin in 2009.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe praised Nairobi’s proposal after the decision. He said the Kenyan capital presented a compelling and emotional bid.
Sebastian Coe stated that the organization was fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and that the decision was not easy for the council. He emphasized that the decision continues the mission of growing athletics worldwide by hosting the championships in Asia, Africa, and Europe over the next three editions. Coe also highlighted that Nairobi’s bid was compelling and emotional, and that bringing the World Athletics Championships to Africa for the first time would be historic.
London loses to Nairobi in bid to host World
The host venues were announced after the 242nd World Athletics Council Meeting in Budapest on Tuesday morning, with London losing out on its bid to host the championships for the second time, after 2017. Sebastian Coe remarked that Germany has proven itself to be an outstanding and dependable host for major athletics events.
London had hoped to bring the event back to the city after successfully hosting the 2017 championships. Its bid was centred on the London Stadium, which also hosted athletics during the 2012 Olympic Games. However, Nairobi’s bid impressed the council and secured the historic opportunity for Kenya and the continent.
The decision was made at the 242nd World Athletics Council Meeting in Budapest on Monday and Tuesday (14-15), with Munich, Germany, approved as host for the 2031 edition of the championships for the third time. World Athletics said both Nairobi and Munich put forward strong bids to win the hosting rights.
Sebastian Coe stated that Nairobi and Munich have been selected to host the 2029 and 2031 World Athletics Championships, respectively, following one of the strongest bidding processes in the history of the sport’s flagship event. The decision, made during the 242nd World Athletics Council Meeting in Budapest on Monday and Tuesday (14-15), means that the World Athletics Championships will be held in Africa for the first time when the Kenyan capital stages the 2029 edition, before returning to Germany for a third time two years later, this time in Munich’s iconic Olympic Stadium.
The 2029 event will take place in September, as will the 2031 edition in Munich. The 2027 championships are set for Beijing. Nairobi’s selection comes after it was revealed that the city’s Kasarani Stadium is being renovated ahead of hosting matches at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Swedish outlet SVT noted that Nairobi’s elevation of 1,700 meters above sea level could pose challenges for endurance events, though the city’s experience hosting the World U18 Championships in 2017 and the World U20 Championships in 2021 strengthened its case.
World Athletics emphasized that Nairobi’s bid demonstrated a clear understanding of the requirements, with Coe stating that Kenya understood and grasped
what was needed after their 2025 bid failure. The organization also highlighted the significance of expanding the championships’ reach to Africa, a continent that has produced many of the sport’s greatest athletes.