Nairobi beats London to host 2029 World Athletics
World Athletics council selects Nairobi, Kenya, to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, marking the historic first time an African city hosts the event.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Nairobi, Kenya, has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships.
- This marks the first time in history that the prestigious event will be held in Africa.
- London and Rome missed out on their bids to secure hosting rights for the event.
- Munich was confirmed as the host city for the subsequent 2031 championships.
The host city for the 2029 World Athletics Championships has been officially decided, with the World Athletics council voting to award the prestigious event to Nairobi, Kenya. This historic decision represents the first time an African city will host the global athletics showcase.
The announcement was confirmed during a council meeting in Budapest. World Athletics president Sebastian Coe noted that the council faced a rigorous selection process with four outstanding bids for the 2029 and 2031 tournaments, praising Nairobi for presenting a deeply compelling and emotional case.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom's bid centered around the London Stadium—home to Premier League club West Ham United—ultimately fell short. The venue, which previously hosted the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2017 World Athletics Championships, missed out alongside Rome as the council favored the African bid.
"We are deeply disappointed that the 2029 World Athletics Championships will not be held in London. We believed we had an outstanding bid which would genuinely take the sport to new levels."
Jack Buckner, CEO of UK Athletics
Jack Buckner, CEO of UK Athletics and co-founder of Athletic Ventures, expressed his disappointment over the outcome while thanking the UK government, the Mayor of London, and various stakeholders for their support. He also extended his congratulations to the Nairobi organizing committee for the upcoming 2029 event.
World Athletics' decision to take its marquee event to Nairobi highlights a strategic global expansion across Asia, Africa, and Europe over upcoming editions. Bolstered by ongoing renovations at Kasarani Stadium ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and Kenya's stellar athletic pedigree—including a second-place finish with seven gold medals at the 2025 championships—the Kenyan capital provides a fitting backdrop for a historic milestone in international track and field.
Source: BBC Sport
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