Kenya’s Nairobi becomes first African city to host World Athletics Championships

Nairobi has beaten London to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, paving the way for Africa to stage the prestigious event for the first time.

The decision was confirmed at a World Athletics Council meeting in Budapest, where the Kenyan capital emerged ahead of London and Rome.

Munich was also selected to host the 2031 championships, marking the first time the German city will stage the event.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe described Nairobi’s bid as “compelling and emotional”, saying the decision reflected the organisation’s ambition to expand athletics across the globe.

“We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the council,” Coe said.

“Nairobi presented a compelling and emotional bid, and taking the World Athletics Championships to Africa for the first time will be historic.”

The championships are expected to be centred on Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium, which is undergoing renovations ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The improvements strengthened Kenya’s case to host the global athletics showpiece.

Kenya has a long and distinguished tradition in athletics, particularly in distance running, and finished second in the medal table at the 2025 World Championships, winning seven gold medals and 11 medals overall.

For London, the decision represents a major disappointment.

Its bid was led by Athletic Ventures, a partnership involving UK Athletics, London Marathon Events and the Great Run Company, and had secured £45 million in public funding.

The proposed centrepiece was the London Stadium, which hosted athletics during the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2017 World Championships.

It is also the regular venue for the London Diamond League.

However, uncertainty over whether West Ham United would allow the stadium to host the championships remained an issue until permission was finally secured shortly before the bid was submitted.

Questions were also raised about attendance and ticket prices after almost 10,000 seats were left empty during last month’s European Athletics Championships at Birmingham’s 23,000-capacity Alexander Stadium.

UK Athletics chief executive Jack Buckner said the organisation was “deeply disappointed” but congratulated Nairobi and wished its organising committee success.

British athletes also expressed mixed emotions.

World indoor 400m champion Amber Anning said missing out was disappointing but believed hosting the championships in Africa could create a lasting legacy.

Olympic long-jump champion Greg Rutherford described the decision as a “bitter pill to swallow” but said Nairobi had presented a strong bid.

The decision also comes as Britain prepares to host several major sporting events, including the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2027 and the men’s European Championship in 2028.