Advertisement
Ruto over the moon as Nairobi wins rights to host 2029 World Athletics Championships
15th September, 2026 02:31 PM
President William Ruto has expressed joy after Nairobi has won the right to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, making Kenya the first African nation to stage the premier global athletics competition.
The decision was reached during the 242nd World Athletics Council Meeting in Budapest on Monday and Tuesday, September 14 and 15, 2026, with Munich in Germany chosen to stage the 2031 championships.
The landmark decision will see the global championships make their first appearance on African soil in 2029 before returning to Germany two years later, with Munich’s Olympic Stadium set to provide the backdrop for the 2031 edition.
Shortly after the news broke, Ruto took to social media saying: “This is Kenya’s moment, Africa’s moment and a victory for generations of athletes who made our nation synonymous with excellence on the track, on the road and cross country.
“I congratulate our bid team, Athletics Kenya, the Ministry of Sports, Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy, our athletes and everyone who worked tirelessly to deliver this historic feat.
“We thank World Athletics for the confidence it has placed in Kenya. We will honour that confidence by delivering an unforgettable championship worthy of our athletes, our country and our continent.” He stated.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said the selection followed an exceptionally competitive bidding process involving four candidates.
“We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the Council,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. “The quality, ambition and commitment demonstrated by all four candidates underlines the strength and global appeal of the World Athletics Championships.
“With this Council decision today, 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.
“Nairobi and Munich ultimately presented two compelling propositions. They offer very different but equally exciting opportunities for our sport, and I am delighted that we can now begin working with both cities to stage two world-class championships.”
Historic breakthrough for Nairobi
Nairobi’s successful bid marks a major development for athletics on the African continent, which has previously hosted several major World Athletics competitions but never the senior World Championships.
Uganda’s Kampala hosted the World Cross Country Championships in 2017, while Nairobi staged the World U18 Championships that same year and the World U20 Championships in 2021.
Botswana’s Gaborone then became the first African host of the World Athletics Relays in 2026.
Kenya’s capital has also strengthened its reputation as an international athletics centre through the annual Kip Keino Classic, which has been part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series since its introduction in 2020.
Nairobi previously attempted to secure the 2025 World Championships before Tokyo was awarded the event. The city returned to the bidding process with a stronger proposal for 2029, backed by years of experience in hosting international athletics competitions.
The 2017 World U18 Championships highlighted the country’s enormous following for athletics, with Kasarani Stadium attracting large crowds during the competition.
The 2029 proposal also includes a refurbished Kasarani Stadium, which is undergoing extensive works ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
World Athletics said Kenya’s passion for the sport was another important factor behind the successful bid.
