- Kenya has officially applied to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships at MISC, Kasarani Stadium.
- Kenya is competing against three major European host contenders: London (London Stadium), Rome (Stadio Olimpico), and Munich (Olympiastadion).
- The World Athletics will announce the winning host city in mid-September.
Kenya has formally submitted its application to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, Athletics Kenya confirmed on Monday, August 10.
If successful, the flagship event will mark the first time the senior global track and field event is held on African soil.
“Nairobi has officially submitted its formal application to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, presenting a compelling case to bring the global flagship event to African soil,” Athletics Kenya stated in an official release.
“The submission places the Kenyan capital firmly in the running for the global selection process. The government has committed its full support to the bid, ensuring the necessary organizational framework, security measures, and modern infrastructure required to host a world-class global showpiece.”
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Kenya has hosted major global athletics events in the past, namely the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa in 2007, the World Athletics Under-18 Championships in Nairobi in 2017 and World Athletics Under-20 Championships, also in Nairobi, in 2021.
Kenya also hosts annual World Athletics Gold Label events, namely the Kip Keino Classic track and field meeting in Nairobi and the Sirkwa Classic Cross Country Championships in Uasin Gishu County.
Nairobi also hosted the 2010 African Athletics Championships at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Kenya’s opponents in the race for the hosting rights
However, despite Kenya’s impressive track record of hosting major international events, it faces a tough battle against three developed nations, with four cities now in the running to secure the right to host the 2029 showpiece.
Nairobi, Kenya, has proposed the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, aiming to make history as the first African host city.
London, United Kingdom, is proposing the London Stadium after clearing venue-use agreements with West Ham United Football Club. Rome, Italy, is competing with a proposal centered around the Stadio Olimpico while Munich, Germany, rounds out the field of contenders by offering the legendary Olympiastadion.
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The 2029 application comes on the heels of previous bidding setbacks and infrastructure stumbles that stalled Kenya’s global hosting ambitions.
Nairobi previously launched a high-profile bid for the 2025 World Athletics Championships, but lost out to Tokyo after the World Athletics Council cited significant concerns regarding the cost, timeframe, and extensive refurbishment needed for Kasarani Stadium.
The country also suffered past hosting blows when delayed venue upgrades caused the Confederation of African Football to strip Kenya of its hosting rights for the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The winning host cities for both the 2029 and 2031 championships will be announced by World Athletics after the Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungary next month.