NAIROBI, Kenya: Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, making Kenya the first African country to stage the global athletics showpiece.
World Athletics announced the decision on Tuesday, September 15, following a council meeting in Budapest. Munich, Germany, was also selected to host the 2031 edition.
The decision marks a major moment for African athletics, with Nairobi becoming the first city on the continent to welcome the World Athletics Championships.
Kenya had previously bid to host the 2025 championships, but the event was awarded to Tokyo. Nairobi has nevertheless built experience in hosting major international athletics competitions, staging the World U18 Championships in 2017 and the World U20 Championships in 2021.
The 2029 championships will be held at Kasarani Stadium, which is currently undergoing renovations ahead of its planned use for matches during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe welcomed Nairobi’s successful bid and pointed to Kenya’s deep connection with the sport.
“Nairobi presented a compelling and emotional bid, and taking the World Athletics Championships to Africa for the first time will be historic,” Coe said.
“Kenya is one of the great athletics nations. The sport is woven into the fabric of the country.”
The championships will take place in September, following the same month used for the 2027 edition in Beijing.
Munich will host the 2031 championships at the Olympic Stadium, bringing the competition back to Germany for the first time since Berlin hosted it in 2009.
“Germany has proved time and again that it is an outstanding and dependable host for major athletics events,” Coe said.
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