World Athletics Council members formally awarded the 2029 World Athletics Championships to Nairobi, marking Kenya’s selection as the first African nation to host the global track and field event after a competitive bidding process involving London, Munich and Rome.

The announcement was made in Budapest following a council meeting chaired by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, who confirmed that Kenya Wins Historic 2029 World Athletics Bid reflected both the strength of Nairobi’s proposal and a broader strategic shift to expand athletics’ global reach.

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Sebastian Coe described the decision as a defining moment for the sport, noting that Nairobi’s bid carried both emotional and developmental significance for athletics across Africa.

He said, “We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the Council. Taking our championships to Africa for the first time will be historic.”

Kenya Wins Historic 2029 World Athletics Bid follows years of renewed investment in sports infrastructure and international hosting ambitions, including upgrades to Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium, which is currently undergoing renovation ahead of future continental and global events.

World Athletics noted that Nairobi’s proposal demonstrated strong legacy planning, fan engagement potential, and alignment with long-term development goals for athletics in emerging markets.

Coe further emphasised that Kenya’s deep cultural connection to running made the selection particularly compelling, stating that athletics is “woven into the fabric of Kenya.”

Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Sports Salim Mvurya welcomed the announcement, describing it as global recognition of the country’s identity as a distance running powerhouse.

He said the decision affirmed Kenya’s place at the heart of world athletics and reflected national pride in a sport that continues to produce world and Olympic champions.

Secondary highlights of the council decision include confirmation that the 2031 World Championships will be hosted in Munich, Germany, while the 2027 edition is already scheduled for Beijing, China.

Officials also highlighted the long-term aim of rotating major championships across continents to broaden participation and audience engagement.

Sebastian Coe also addressed the broader strategic direction of World Athletics, noting that future hosting decisions are increasingly guided by the need to grow the sport globally.

He added that there had been significant interest from multiple nations in staging upcoming elite competitions, reflecting rising commercial and competitive appeal.

Kenya’s successful bid also builds on its previous experience hosting major athletics events, including the World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi in 2021 and the African Athletics Championships in 2010, reinforcing its capacity to deliver large-scale international sporting competitions.

Industry observers say the decision is likely to boost Kenya’s global sporting profile while strengthening investment in tourism, infrastructure and youth athletics development across the region.

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As Kenya Wins Historic 2029 World Athletics Bid becomes a defining moment in global sport, attention now shifts to how Nairobi will translate its historic selection into a legacy event capable of shaping the future of athletics in Africa.