NAIROBI — Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, giving Kenya and the African continent one of the most significant international sporting events in athletics history.
World Athletics announced on 15 September that Nairobi would stage the 2029 championships, while Munich, Germany, was selected to host the 2031 edition.
The decision means the World Athletics Championships, the sport’s flagship global competition, will be held on African soil for the first time.
Kenya enters the preparations with considerable experience in staging international athletics events. Nairobi hosted the World U18 Championships in 2017 and the World U20 Championships in 2021. The city has also hosted the Kip Keino Classic, which forms part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold.
Kasarani Stadium is expected to play a central role in the 2029 championships. The facility is undergoing extensive renovation ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, providing infrastructure that can subsequently support the athletics championships.
World Athletics said Nairobi’s proposal combined operational planning, financial guarantees, stadium redevelopment and Kenya’s strong connection with athletics.
The selection also reflects the country’s long-established international reputation in distance and middle-distance running.
Preparations for 2029 will now extend beyond competition itself. Transport, accommodation, security, broadcasting, tourism and venue management will all form part of the planning required for an event expected to attract athletes, officials, media and spectators from around the world.
For Kenya, the championships represent both a sporting milestone and an opportunity to demonstrate Africa’s capacity to host one of the world’s largest international athletics events.