It is a very proud moment for Kenya and the whole of Africa as Nairobi has officially won the bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships. This is a truly historic win because it will be the very first time this huge global event is being held on African soil.
The announcement was made after a tough competition, where London also put in a very strong bid. The UK Athletics CEO, Jack Buckner, shared his feelings about the decision, saying they are deeply disappointed. He mentioned that they believed they had an outstanding bid that would have taken the sport to new levels, but it was just not their time. He however wished Nairobi and the organising committee all the best for a great event.
World Athletics President, Sebastian Coe, announced the decision and said it was not an easy one for the council because they were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for the 2029 and 2031 editions. He shared that taking the championships to Africa for the first time will be historic, adding that athletics is truly woven into the fabric of Kenya.
Coe went on to praise our great nation, saying Kenya is one of the great athletics nations. He gave a special shout-out to our very own world gold medallists and legends like Faith Kipyegon, Vivian Cheruiyot, Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri, David Rudisha, Kip Keino, Paul Tergat, and Tegla Loroupe, noting how they have shaped the history of the sport. He said it was important for the championships to come to Africa when the right host, bid, and circumstances were available, and Nairobi has shown emphatically that this is indeed their moment.
For the 2031 edition, the championships will be heading back to Germany, with Munich confirmed as the host city. The World Championships usually run for 10 days and include a full slate of events, unlike the new Ultimate Championship which is a three-day invite-only event with big cash prizes. The full schedule will mean the return of events like the men’s triple jump, shot put, walks, and the marathon.
This win is a massive boost for our country. It is now upon us to prepare and show the world the true spirit of Kenyan hospitality and our deep love for athletics. Congratulations to Nairobi, congratulations to Kenya, and congratulations to Africa!
