Nairobi is set to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, marking the first time the prestigious event will take place on the African continent. The decision was finalized by the World Athletics council in Budapest, where the governing body also confirmed that Munich will host the 2031 championships.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe lauded Nairobi’s proposal, describing it as a “compelling and emotional bid.” According to Coe, the council faced a difficult selection process with four outstanding candidates for the two events. He noted that the organization remains committed to expanding the sport’s global footprint, with upcoming championships scheduled across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The successful Kenyan bid was bolstered by ongoing renovations at the Kasarani Stadium ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Kenya’s recent performance on the international stage also factored in; the nation finished second in the medal table at the 2025 championships, securing 11 total medals, including seven golds.
For London, the loss is a significant setback. The UK bid, led by Athletic Ventures—a coalition comprising UK Athletics, the Great Run Company, and London Marathon Events—had secured 45 million pounds in public funding. The bid proposed using the London Stadium, which previously hosted the 2012 Olympics, the 2017 World Athletics Championships, and serves as the annual home for the London Diamond League.
Jack Buckner, CEO of UK Athletics, expressed deep disappointment, stating they had believed their bid would elevate the sport to new levels. He extended congratulations to Nairobi, acknowledging the committee’s work while thanking various government departments and stakeholders for their support.
Analysts have suggested several reasons for the unsuccessful UK bid. Uncertainties regarding West Ham United’s permission for the London Stadium to be utilized were only resolved shortly before the formal submission deadline. Furthermore, concerns were raised following low turnout at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium during last month’s European Athletics Championships, where nearly 10,000 seats remained empty.
While Lord Coe did not confirm whether specific factors like recent ticket sales influenced the vote, he did acknowledge the history of doping in Kenyan athletics, suggesting the issue would require scrutiny. He emphasized that the primary focus remains Kenya’s tradition in distance running and the historic nature of bringing the event to Africa.
Elite athletes have offered mixed reactions to the decision. World indoor 400m champion Amber Anning admitted to feeling disappointed but noted that bringing the championships to Africa will create a unique legacy. Former Olympic long jump gold medalist Greg Rutherford echoed these sentiments, calling it a “bitter pill to swallow” for London but stressing that the sport needs to evolve.
Rutherford praised Nairobi’s strong bid and suggested that London’s recent experience as a host in 2017 may have weighed against it. He noted that while 2017 was a massive success in terms of attendance and atmosphere, the sport now requires change to reach new regions. Ultimately, the decision leaves Britain, which is currently preparing to host the 2027 Tour de France Grand Depart and the 2028 men’s Euros, looking toward future opportunities as it continues to explore a potential 2040 Olympic bid. The report also notes that we continue to fulfil our mission of growing athletics worldwide with the hosting of our World Athletics Championships in Asia, Africa and Europe over its next three editions, with this decision today. The report also notes that nairobi has demonstrated emphatically that this is their moment. The report also notes that nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, submitted a bid for the 2025 championships but missed out to Tokyo. The report also notes that so why did it fail, this is a painful snub for London. The report also notes that and were confident of replicating the commercial success of the 2017 event, those behind the bid had secured £45m in public money.
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