The Nairobi bid defeated London in the race to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, a decision that opens a new chapter in the history of the sport. The capital of Kenya will become the first African city to host the flagship world athletics championship, in a country where middle- and long-distance events are deeply rooted in its sporting tradition. The decision followed a process that also included bids from Munich and Rome, with four proposals that, according to World Athletics president Seb Coe, presented strong arguments.
For London, however, the result represented a major blow. A source close to the British bid acknowledged that the team was “devastated” after believing it had a strong proposal and that the English capital had emerged as one of the leading contenders for 2029. The bid also faced several obstacles during the process, including the prolonged dispute with West Ham over whether the stadium could be used in September of that year and concerns generated by low attendance during the opening days of the European Championships held in Birmingham.
Nairobi makes history in world athletics
Nairobi’s selection has a significance that goes beyond hosting an international competition. For World Athletics, bringing the World Championships to Africa for the first time recognizes the continent’s role in the history and development of athletics, and particularly Kenya’s place in endurance events. Coe described the bid as “compelling and emotive” and highlighted Nairobi as a modern, dynamic and rapidly growing city, as well as an important economic, cultural and political center of East Africa. The decision comes in a country whose sporting identity is closely linked to athletes who have achieved global recognition.
The list of figures who have represented Kenya at major international competitions helps explain part of the significance of the decision. Faith Kipyegon, Vivian Cheruiyot, Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri and David Rudisha, among others, have built important chapters in the recent history of athletics, while names such as Kip Keino, Paul Tergat and Tegla Loroupe belong to earlier generations that helped establish the country’s international reputation. In this context, World Athletics considered that the right conditions existed for the championship to come to the continent and that Nairobi had demonstrated that the time was right to take on the challenge. The 2029 World Championships will be held in September, at the decisive stage of the international season.
London and Munich take different paths after the decision
London’s defeat now opens a period of reflection for a bid that came with experience in hosting major sporting events. The British capital had already hosted the 2017 World Athletics Championships and had the infrastructure and expertise needed to stage the competition again. However, uncertainty over the use of the stadium in September 2029 became one of the more difficult aspects of the process. This was compounded by the context surrounding British athletics following the European Championships in Birmingham, where low attendance during the opening days sent an unfavorable signal for a bid that needed to demonstrate its ability to attract spectators.
While London will have to process the disappointment, Munich has secured the opportunity to host the 2031 World Athletics Championships. The German bid received a particularly positive evaluation and, according to Coe, was considered an exceptionally strong proposal. The decision was also supported by Germany’s track record as a host of major competitions: Berlin 2009 remains one of the most memorable editions of the World Championships, while the European Championships subsequently held in Berlin and Munich further strengthened the country’s experience. In 2022, the response from spectators in Munich also demonstrated the level of interest in major athletics events, a factor that resurfaced during the evaluation of the bid for 2031.
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