Nairobi to Make History as Africa Hosts World Athletics Championships for First Time in 2029

The World Athletics Championships will make history in 2029 when Nairobi becomes the first African city to host the global athletics showpiece. Munich, meanwhile, has been selected to stage the 2031 edition, giving Germany the opportunity to host the championships for a third time.

The decisions were taken at the 242nd World Athletics Council Meeting in Budapest, where Nairobi emerged ahead of fellow bidders Rome, Munich and London for the 2029 championships. Munich was subsequently chosen as the host for 2031, while London, which had been regarded as a strong contender for 2029, missed out.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said the quality of the bids made the decision a difficult one, with all four candidates presenting strong proposals.

“Nairobi and Munich ultimately presented two compelling propositions. They offer very different but equally exciting opportunities for our sport,” Coe said, adding that the selections would help expand the global reach of athletics.

The 2029 championships will mark a major milestone for African sport. While the continent has successfully staged several international athletics competitions, it has never hosted the World Athletics Championships, the sport's biggest global event after the Olympic Games.

Kenya has already established itself as one of the world's leading athletics nations, particularly in distance running. The country is the second-most successful nation in World Athletics Championships history and has produced generations of Olympic and world champions.

Among the athletes who have helped shape Kenya's athletics legacy are Faith Kipyegon, Vivian Cheruiyot, Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri and David Rudisha, along with legendary figures such as Kip Keino, Paul Tergat and Tegla Loroupe.

Coe described Nairobi's successful bid as a historic moment for both Kenya and African athletics, saying the country had demonstrated that the time was right for the championships to come to the continent.

Africa has steadily increased its role in hosting major international athletics events. Kampala hosted the World Cross Country Championships in 2017, while Nairobi staged the World U18 Championships that same year. Botswana's capital Gaborone hosted the World Athletics Relays earlier this year, becoming the first African host of that competition.

However, the senior World Athletics Championships represent a considerably bigger stage, bringing together the world's leading track and field athletes and attracting a global television audience.

For Kenya, hosting the event could also provide an opportunity to showcase the country's athletics culture beyond its dominance in distance running and give younger athletes greater exposure to the sport at home.

Munich will provide a different backdrop in 2031. The city's Olympic Stadium and surrounding Olympiapark will host the championships, marking Germany's third time as host after Stuttgart in 1993 and Berlin in 2009.

Coe pointed to Germany's record of staging major athletics events and said Munich's plans would combine its sporting tradition with its cultural identity. The Olympiapark's sustainability credentials are also expected to feature prominently in preparations for the championships.

The next World Athletics Championships are scheduled to be held in Beijing from September 10 to 19, 2027. The 2029 and 2031 editions are also planned for September, reflecting World Athletics' aim of bringing the global athletics season to a climax with a major championship.

The selection of Nairobi and Munich means the next three editions of the World Athletics Championships will be spread across Asia, Africa and Europe, underlining the sport's push for a broader global footprint.