Nairobi has formally submitted its bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, aiming to become the first African city to stage the sport’s flagship event.
The Kenyan capital faces competition from London, Rome and Munich, with World Athletics expected to announce the successful host city in September. The Kenyan government has pledged full support for the bid, including the infrastructure, security and organisational arrangements needed to host the championships.
If successful, Nairobi would make history by becoming the first African city to host the World Athletics Championships, the sport’s premier global competition.
Kenya has previously hosted several major international athletics events, giving Nairobi experience in staging competitions involving athletes from across the world.
Mombasa hosted the 2007 World Cross Country Championships, while Nairobi staged the World Under-18 Championships in 2017 and the World Under-20 Championships in 2021.
Nairobi also hosted the African Athletics Championships in 2010, adding to the country’s record of organising major continental and global athletics competitions.
The government’s commitment to provide infrastructure, security and organisational support is expected to be a key part of Kenya’s proposal as it seeks to convince World Athletics that the capital can successfully stage an event of such scale.
The bid comes as Kenya seeks to build on its reputation as one of Africa’s leading athletics nations. The country has produced numerous world and Olympic champions and has a strong tradition in middle- and long-distance running.
Hosting the World Athletics Championships would provide an opportunity for Kenya to showcase its athletes on home soil while also bringing international attention to Nairobi and the wider country.
The competition for the 2029 championships is expected to be closely watched, with three major European cities also seeking the hosting rights.
London has extensive experience staging major international sporting events, while Rome and Munich have also hosted significant athletics and sporting competitions.
Kenya’s government has nevertheless expressed its full backing for the Nairobi proposal, covering the infrastructure, security and organisational requirements needed to stage the championships.
The 2029 event would also represent a significant milestone for athletics in Africa, where the sport has a large following and has produced some of the world’s most successful competitors.
World Athletics is expected to make its decision in September, when the successful host city will be announced.
A Nairobi victory would make Kenya the first African country to host the World Athletics Championships and would mark a major achievement for the continent’s athletics community.