Nairobi has secured a historic place in World Athletics history after being selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, becoming the first African city to stage the sport’s biggest global event.
Munich, Germany, will host the following edition in 2031, with the two cities emerging from a four-way bidding process for the championships.
World Athletics confirmed the hosts after its Council concluded its 242nd meeting in Budapest, Hungary, on Tuesday.
The decision represents a major milestone for Kenya, which has built a strong reputation on the international athletics scene and has previously staged several major competitions.
Reacting to the outcome, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said the quality of the proposals made the selection process particularly difficult.
“We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the Council.
“The quality, ambition and commitment demonstrated by all four candidates underlines the strength and global appeal of the World Athletics Championships,” he said.
According to Coe, the successful bids from Nairobi and Munich offered distinct opportunities for the sport while meeting the requirements for hosting the championships.
“Nairobi and Munich ultimately presented two compelling propositions. They offer very different but equally exciting opportunities for our sport.
“I am delighted that we can now begin working with both cities to stage two world-class championships,” he said.
The selection of Nairobi carries particular significance because it will bring the World Championships to African soil for the first time.
Coe said Kenya’s history in athletics was an important part of the significance surrounding the decision.
“Nairobi presented a compelling and emotional bid, and taking the World Athletics Championships to Africa for the first time will be historic.
“Kenya is one of the great athletics nations,” Coe said.
He explained that World Athletics had wanted the continental debut to happen under the right circumstances, with Nairobi ultimately making a strong case for the opportunity.
“It was important that the World Athletics Championships should come to Africa when we had the right host, the right bid and the right circumstances.
“Nairobi has demonstrated emphatically that this is their moment,” he said.
Nairobi is not new to hosting major athletics events. The Kenyan capital staged the 2020 World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Kip Keino Classic before hosting the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships.
The 2029 championship will now add another major event to the city’s athletics calendar, while Munich will welcome the global competition two years later in 2031.
