The upcoming World Athletics Championships will make history by moving to Africa for the first time, as Kenya's capital, Nairobi, has been officially selected to stage the 2029 edition. This decision means that London, which had also put forward a strong proposal, will not be the host city for that year.
Kenya has long been recognized as a powerhouse in long-distance running, producing a parade of world‑class athletes, yet it has never before hosted a competition of this magnitude. The 2029 Championships will therefore represent a landmark moment for the nation and the continent, showcasing Africa's growing capacity to organize premier global sporting events. After Nairobi's turn, the championships will return to Europe, with Munich, Germany slated to host the 2031 edition.
"We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the council," explained World Athletics President Sebastian Coe during the announcement that followed the Ultimate Championship event in Hungary. Coe added that the quality, ambition and dedication displayed by all four candidate cities highlighted the worldwide appeal and strength of the World Athletics Championships. Jack Buckner, the chief executive of UK Athletics and a co‑founder of Athletic Ventures, expressed his disappointment on behalf of the British side.
"We are deeply disappointed that the 2029 World Athletics Championships will not be held in London. We believed we had an outstanding bid which would genuinely take the sport to new levels," he said.
Buckner thanked the UK government, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London, UK Sport, the London Stadium, West Ham United and numerous other stakeholders for their unwavering support and hard work in assembling the proposal. He continued, "The UK is an incredible host for major sports events and the British public loves athletics. Athletic Ventures has the ambition to bring those events here and, although today's announcement hasn't gone our way, we will review and regroup.
We know the world's athletes love competing here and we'll continue to explore further opportunities to make that happen." He concluded by congratulating Nairobi and wishing the organising committee success for the 2029 event. Nairobi's selection is being hailed as a historic breakthrough for the sport, marking the first time the world’s premier athletics competition will be staged on African soil.
Coe underscored this significance, stating, "Taking our championships to Africa for the first time will be historic. Athletics is woven into the fabric of Kenya." The decision arrives after the recent "Ultimate Championship," a short‑form, invitation‑only meet that swapped traditional medals for large cash prizes and ran over three days. That experimental format will revert to the classic ten‑day schedule for the next full World Championships, which will be held in Beijing in 2025. The traditional format includes a comprehensive programme covering everything from the men's triple jump and shot put to race walking events and the marathon—disciplines that were omitted from the condensed Budapest showcase.
Coe highlighted Kenya's deep connection to the sport, noting that the country has produced a litany of legendary figures. "Kenya is one of the great athletics nations. The sport is woven into the fabric of the country, and athletes such as world gold medallists Faith Kipyegon, Vivian Cheruiyot, Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri and David Rudisha, as well as two‑time Olympic champion Kip Keino, multiple world cross‑country champion Paul Tergat and multiple world half‑marathon champion Tegla Loroupe, have shaped the history of our sport," he said. He added that the timing was right for Africa to host the event.
"It was important that the World Athletics Championships should come to Africa when we had the right host, the right bid and the right circumstances. Nairobi has demonstrated emphatically that this is their moment." The upcoming Championships in Nairobi are expected to draw athletes from across the globe, competing in a full slate of track and field events over ten days. Organisers are already outlining plans for state‑of‑the‑art facilities, athlete villages, and community engagement programs designed to inspire the next generation of African runners.
Local officials have emphasized that the event will not only boost Kenya's sporting reputation but also provide economic benefits through tourism, infrastructure development, and international exposure. In preparation for the 2029 Games, Nairobi's bid committee has pledged to deliver world‑class venues that meet the stringent standards set by World Athletics. This includes upgrades to the Kasarani Stadium, enhancements to training facilities, and the implementation of sustainable practices to minimize the environmental footprint of the event.
The city also aims to showcase Kenya's rich cultural heritage, offering visitors a blend of modern athletic competition and traditional African hospitality. While London will miss out on hosting the 2029 edition, UK Athletics has signalled that it will continue to pursue future opportunities to bring major athletics events to the United Kingdom. The disappointment expressed by Jack Buckner and his team reflects a broader commitment to maintaining the UK’s status as a premier destination for international sport, even as the global athletics calendar evolves.
Overall, Nairobi's appointment as the 2029 World Athletics Championships host marks a pivotal step forward for the sport, highlighting Africa's rising prominence on the world stage and promising an unforgettable celebration of human speed, strength, and endurance in the heart of Kenya.