Nairobi
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.
The submission places the Kenyan capital firmly in the running for the global selection process. Kenya has put forward a robust, government-backed bid that is expected to serve as a strong, historic push for the African continent.
If successful, the selection of Nairobi would mark the first time the senior World Athletics Championships are held in Africa.
Nairobi faces competition from London, Rome, and Munich for the 2029 edition. 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.
Sprints action at the 2017 World Under-18 Championships at a packed Kasarani Stadium which hopes to host the senior World Championships in 2029. (Photo / File)
However, Nairobi stands a good chance given that the other three candidate nations of Italy, Germany and England have previously hosted the World Championships with the entire African continent yet to taste the first-class athletics.
Italy, Germany, England Cities Previous Hosts
Italian capital Rome hosted the second edition of the World Championships at the Stadio Olympico in 1987 featuring 1,451 athletes from 159 nations competing in 43 events. Their bid for the 2029 edition has been supported by the Italian Government, through Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, and the City of Rome.
“Rome’s candidacy is a great opportunity for our city and a recognition of the path we built over the years,” Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri says. “In recent years, Rome has proved its ability to successfully host major international events, from the European Athletics Championships to the Ryder Cup, from the Italian Tennis Championships to the Six Nations Rugby, and even the final stages of the Giro d’Italia.
Kenya's Julius Yego hurls the javelin to a then national record 87.71 metres at the Stadio Olympico in Rome during the Golden Gala Diamond League meeting in June, 2015. The Stadio Olympico hopes to host its second World Championships competition in 2029. (Photo / File)
“These events have enhanced the city, generating economic, tourism and image benefits, and confirming Rome’s ability to best welcome athletes, delegations and the public from around the world.”
Germany last hosted the World Championships in 2009 in Berlin, just 585 kilometres away from 2029 Bid City Munich which last month received financial backing from the Bavarian regional government that has undertaken to foot one third of the organizational costs with the budget for 2029 standing at 120 million Euros (Sh18 billion).
With World Athletics set to award both the 2029 and 2031 hosting rights next month, reports indicate that Munich are keen on the 2031 edition leaving Nairobi, London and Rome firmly in the race for 2029.
View of the London Olympic Stadium track from the Media Tribune during the 2017 World Athletics Championships. London hopes to have another bite of the cherry by organising the World Athletics Championships yet again in 2029 at the same venue which also hosted the 2012 London Olympics track and field programme. Africa is yet to host the global athletics contest (Photo / File)
London last hosted the World Championships most recently in 2017 at the Olympic Stadium, home to Premier League Club West Ham United who have agreed to juggle their 2029 Premiership fixture to allow a window of opportunity for the World Championships to run at the venue in the summer of 2029.
Nairobi Backed by African Support
The Nairobi bid, backed by African support, therefore positions Kenya favourably with President William Ruto’s Government having undertaken to finance the organization of the 2029 World Championships, also backed by the experience of having hosted various global athletics competitions before packed crowds.
Some of the major global athletics events successfully hosted in Kenya in the past include 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.
The Media Centre at the 2009 World Athletics Championships at the Berlin Olympic Stadium in Germany. The Germans are angling to host another edition of the World Championships in 2029, this time in Munich. (Photo / File)
Nairobi also hosted the 2010 African Athletics Championships at the Nyayo National Stadium.
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.
