On Tuesday, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe announced that London had lost the 2029 World Athletics Championships to Nairobi, Kenya. The Kenyan capital will host the competition for the very first time, representing a landmark moment for athletics on the African continent.
Distance running has made Kenya into a dominant force for years, yet the country has never held an event of this magnitude. The championships will move back to Germany in 2031, with Munich stepping up to host.
“We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the council,” Coe said as he announced the decision following the Ultimate Championship in Hungary.
The Decision and the Bids
Coe said all four candidates showed quality, ambition and commitment, and that these qualities together underlined the strength and global appeal of the World Athletics Championships.
The chief executive of UK Athletics and a co-founder of Athletic Ventures made his feelings known after the result was announced.
“We are deeply disappointed that the 2029 World Athletics Championships will not be held in London,” Buckner said. “We believed we had an outstanding bid which would genuinely take the sport to new levels.”
Buckner’s Statement
A long list of supporters were thanked by Buckner, among them the Government, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London and UK Sport. He also gave credit to the London Stadium, West Ham United and other stakeholders for their work on the bid.
He offered warm words to Nairobi. “Our congratulations go to Nairobi and we wish the organising committee all the best for a great event in 2029,” Buckner said.
Coe on Kenya’s Moment
Coe framed the move to Africa as historic. “Taking our championships to Africa for the first time will be historic,” he said. “Athletics is woven into the fabric of Kenya.”
The list he referred to runs long, with names stretching back across the sport’s history, among them Faith Kipyegon, Vivian Cheruiyot, Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri and David Rudisha. It also includes Kip Keino, who won two Olympic titles, Paul Tergat, who triumphed multiple times at world cross-country, and Tegla Loroupe, a multiple winner of the world half-marathon.
“It was important that the World Athletics Championships should come to Africa when we had the right host, the right bid and the right circumstances,” Coe said. “Nairobi has demonstrated emphatically that this is their moment.”
The Format Change
The 2029 event marks a return to the old World Championships format after the Ultimate Championship substituted big cash prizes for medals in an invitation-only field featuring track’s biggest names.
The World Championships span 10 days, compared to just three for the new Ultimate Championship. The schedule includes a full slate of events, such as the men’s triple jump, shot put, walks and marathon — none of which appeared on the program in Budapest last week.
What Comes Next
After today’s announcement, Buckner said Athletic Ventures would regroup. He pointed out that the British public loves athletics, and he added that Athletic Ventures has the ambition to bring major events to the UK.
“We know the world’s athletes love competing here and we’ll continue to explore further opportunities to make that happen,” he said.
The Timeline
| Event | Year | Host |
|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Championship | Current season | Hungary |
| World Championships | 2027 | Beijing |
| World Championships | 2029 | Nairobi, Kenya |
| World Championships | 2031 | Munich, Germany |
Comparing the Bids
All four bids for 2029 and 2031 carried distinct advantages, and Coe deemed each of them outstanding. The council’s choice was a difficult one.
| Bid | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Nairobi, Kenya | Won 2029 |
| Munich, Germany | Won 2031 |
| London, UK | Lost 2029 |
The Reaction
The sentiment was regret over the outcome, while Buckner’s statement was measured, acknowledging the bid’s quality was still being praised.
The absence of the 2029 bid means UK Athletics is left with an open spot on its schedule of big competitions.
The 2029 World Athletics Championships will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, for the first time ever. The decision has been made, and the focus now shifts to preparations for what promises to be a historic event.
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