BUDAPEST : Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, becoming the first African city to stage the sport’s flagship global event.
World Athletics announced the decision on Tuesday following a council meeting in Budapest, while awarding the 2031 championships to Munich.
Nairobi previously failed in its bid to host the 2025 edition, which was awarded to Tokyo. The Kenyan capital hosted the World U18 Championships in 2017 and the World U20 Championships in 2021.
Events in 2029 will be held at Kasarani Stadium, which is being renovated ahead of its planned use for matches at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
“Nairobi presented a compelling and emotional bid, and taking the World Athletics Championships to Africa for the first time will be historic,” World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said.
“Kenya is one of the great athletics nations. The sport is woven into the fabric of the country.”
Munich will stage the 2031 championships at the Olympic Stadium, bringing the event back to Germany for the first time since Berlin hosted it in 2009.
“Germany has proved time and again that it is an outstanding and dependable host for major athletics events,” Coe said.
Both the 2029 and 2031 championships will be held in September, following the schedule planned for the 2027 edition in Beijing.
