Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, marking the first time the event will take place in Africa. The decision was announced during the 242nd World Athletics Council meeting held in Budapest, following recommendations from a selection panel.

London, which hosted the championships at the Olympic Stadium in 2017, submitted a bid supported by approximately £45 million in guaranteed public-sector funding but was ultimately unsuccessful. Rome was also among the contenders for the 2029 event but did not secure the hosting rights. Munich, another bidder for 2029, was awarded the 2031 edition of the championships.

UK Athletics chief Jack Buckner, who is also a co-founder of the bid organisation Athletics Ventures, expressed disappointment at the outcome. “We believed we had an outstanding bid which would genuinely take the sport to new levels,” Buckner said, reflecting on London’s loss.

The selection of Nairobi represents a significant milestone for the continent, as it will be the first African city to stage the World Athletics Championships, presenting new opportunities for the development of athletics in the region.