Kenya bids to host 2029 World Athletics Championships

What the report says

Kenya has formally entered the race to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, with Nairobi submitted as the bid city. The proposal places Kenya against rival bids from London, Rome and Munich, and World Athletics is expected to make a decision next month, according to the supplied reports.

Athletics Kenya said the bid is backed by the national government and argues that Kenya can provide the organization, security and infrastructure needed for a major international event. The reports say Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, which has a capacity of 48,000, is the intended venue, though that detail was attributed to BBC Sport Africa in the source text.

A successful bid would make Kenya the first African country to host the sport’s flagship world championships. The country has strong credentials in athletics, especially in middle- and long-distance running, and has produced many global champions and record holders. Kenya also has recent experience staging international athletics competitions in Nairobi and Mombasa.

The bid follows Kenya’s earlier unsuccessful attempt to secure the 2025 championships. It also comes as Africa has been hosting more major athletics events, including Botswana’s staging of the World Athletics Relays and East Africa’s upcoming joint hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations, adding to the regional momentum for large-scale sport hosting.