‘Kenya’s moment’ as Nairobi to host 2029 world athletics champs in African first
Nairobi will host the 2029 world outdoor athletics championships, beating London, Munich and Rome to become first African host.
Nairobi will make history as the first African city to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, defeating bids from London, Munich and Rome, World Athletics announced on Tuesday. Sebastian Coe, president of the governing body, praised Nairobi's compelling and emotional bid, calling it a "victory for generations of athletes."
The 2031 championships will be held in Munich. Coe emphasized that this decision allows World Athletics to host the championships in Asia, Africa and Europe over the next three editions. Nairobi's bid, which included a renovated Kasarani Stadium, was seen as a testament to the city's commitment to developing athletics in Kenya and the continent.
However, concerns remain over Kenya's track record on anti-doping, with more than 140 athletes suspended since 2017 for using banned substances. The decision to host the championships away from Europe was described by Coe as a strategic move to expand the sport's global footprint.
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