Kenya will turn into the primary African nation to host the World Athletics Championships after Nairobi was awarded the 2029 version.
The choice was made by the World Athletics Council on Tuesday, September 15, throughout its assembly in Budapest, Hungary.
Nairobi gained the bid after overcoming competitors from Munich, London and Rome. Munich was chosen to host the 2031 version.
Regardless of producing a number of the world’s best observe and subject athletes, Kenya has by no means hosted the senior World Athletics Championships.
Nairobi will stage the occasion on the 48,000-capacity Kasarani Stadium, which is present process main renovations forward of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and can function the principle venue for the 2029 championships.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described Kenya’s proposal as a compelling case for bringing the championships to Africa for the primary time.
“Nairobi introduced a compelling and emotional bid, and taking the World Athletics Championships to Africa for the primary time might be historic,” Coe mentioned.
“Kenya is likely one of the nice athletics nations. The game is woven into the material of the nation.”
Kenya’s choice displays each its long-standing athletics heritage and its success on the worldwide stage.
The nation has gained 72 World Championships gold medals and 38 Olympic gold medals, with a lot of its success coming in middle- and long-distance occasions.
Kenya is at the moment the second-most profitable nation within the historical past of the World Athletics Championships. It additionally completed second on the medal desk on the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, profitable seven gold medals and 11 medals total.
Its athletics custom has been formed by generations of champions, together with two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, Religion Kipyegon, Vivian Cheruiyot, Hellen Obiri, David Rudisha, Kip Keino, Paul Tergat and Tegla Loroupe.
Kipchoge was additionally among the many outstanding figures who supported Nairobi’s bid through the marketing campaign.
Expertise behind the bid
Kenya’s case was strengthened by its expertise in internet hosting main worldwide athletics occasions.
Nairobi hosted the 2017 World Beneath-18 Championships and the 2021 World Beneath-20 Championships, whereas Mombasa staged the 2007 World Cross Nation Championships.
That have, mixed with plans to improve Kasarani Stadium, supplied a powerful basis for Nairobi’s profitable bid.
Kenya’s sturdy home following for athletics was one other issue.
World Athletics analysis discovered that 68 p.c of Kenyans surveyed had a excessive degree of curiosity in athletics, in contrast with a world common of 39 p.c. Athletics can be the second-most-followed sport in Kenya after soccer.
World Athletics mentioned Nairobi’s choice helps its objective of increasing the game globally, with the championships set to achieve Africa for the primary time.
“We proceed to fulfil our mission of rising athletics worldwide,” Coe mentioned.
