Kenya beats European rivals to bring World Athletics Championships to Africa

Kenya will host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, becoming the first African country to stage the sport’s flagship global competition.

World Athletics announced on Tuesday that Nairobi has beaten rival bids from London, Rome, and Munich. Munich was instead awarded the 2031 edition, while Beijing will host the championships in 2027.

“Taking our championships to Africa for the first time will be historic,” World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said. He described Nairobi’s bid as “compelling and emotional,” citing Kenya’s prominence in international athletics.

Kenyan President William Ruto welcomed the decision as a victory for the continent. “This is Kenya’s moment, Africa’s moment, and a victory for generations of athletes who made our nation synonymous with excellence on the track, on the road and cross-country,” he said. Ruto pledged that the East African country would deliver “an unforgettable championship worthy of our athletes, our country and our continent.”

The event will be the first senior World Athletics Championships held in either Kenya or anywhere else in Africa. However, the East African country has previously staged several major international competitions. 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. The capital also hosted the African Athletics Championships in 2010.

Kenya has produced some of the world’s most successful runners, including Olympic champions Eliud Kipchoge, Faith Kipyegon, David Rudisha, and Kipchoge Keino.

The East African country unsuccessfully sought the 2025 championships, which were awarded to Tokyo. World Athletics President Coe said Nairobi returned with a stronger proposal supported by the ongoing overhaul of Kasarani Stadium. The venue is also being renovated ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament, which Kenya will co-host with Tanzania and Uganda.

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The award comes as Kenyan athletics continues to face scrutiny over doping. The Athletics Integrity Unit classifies Kenya among the national federations at the highest risk of doping and subjects its athletes to stricter testing requirements.

The decision adds to Africa’s growing list of major international sporting events. Morocco will become the continent’s second country to host matches at a men’s FIFA World Cup when it stages the 2030 tournament with Spain and Portugal. South Africa became the first in 2010. Moroccan officials are also seeking to stage the 2030 final at the planned 115,000-seat Hassan II Stadium near Casablanca, although FIFA has yet to choose the venue.

Senegal will meanwhile host the Youth Olympic Games from October 31 to November 13, 2026. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye formally received the Olympic flame in Dakar on September 12 ahead of the event – the first Olympic sporting competition to be held in Africa.