Nairobi to host World Athletics Championships in 2029

What the report says

Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, giving Kenya’s capital the distinction of becoming the first African city to stage the global track and field event. According to Al Jazeera’s report, World Athletics announced the decision after a council meeting in Budapest, where Nairobi’s bid was chosen over London, Munich and Rome. The 2031 championships were awarded to Munich, while Beijing had already been named host for 2027.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said the council faced a difficult choice among strong bids and described Nairobi’s proposal as compelling. He said the move would allow the championships to be staged in Asia, Africa and Europe across three editions. Coe also framed the decision as an important step for the sport’s development in Kenya and across the African continent.

The report notes that Kenya has previously hosted several major athletics events, including the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa in 2007, the World Under-18 Championships in Nairobi in 2017 and the World Under-20 Championships in the capital in 2021. Nairobi also hosted the 2010 African Athletics Championships. The article adds that Kasarani Stadium is undergoing renovation ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which was cited as part of the city’s strengthened bid.