Nairobi soaks up history as World Athletics Champs head to Africa

• Moments later, breaking news filtered through from Budapest, Hungary, where the World Athletics Council was convening following the conclusion of the Ultimate Championships.

(From L) Silver medallist Kenya's Faith Kipyegon and gold medallist Kenya's Beatrice Chebet react after the victory ceremony for the women's 5000m final of the athletics event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 6, 2024. (Photo by Martin BERNETTI / AFP)

A brisk, chilly wind swept across Nairobi on Tuesday as noon approached, but the cold air did little to dampen the city’s quiet anticipation.

Moments later, breaking news filtered through from Budapest, Hungary, where the World Athletics Council was convening following the conclusion of the Ultimate Championships.

The capital stood still as the historic announcement reverberated across the airwaves: Nairobi had officially won the bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships.

Beating out rival bids from powerhouse cities like London and Rome, the victory marked the very first time the prestigious event would grace African soil.

The track and field governing body also confirmed after the council meeting that the 2031 championships will be held in Munich, Germany.

The news travelled swiftly to Siaya County, where President William Ruto was conducting a development tour in the Nyanza region. Pausing his speech as the confirmation reached him, President Ruto took to the microphone to share the milestone with the cheering crowd.

“Leo, dunia nzima wameamua ya kwamba World Athletics Championships ya 2029, for the first time in Africa, itafanyika katika taifa letu la Kenya! Why? Because we are a great sporting nation. And it is the reason why nimechukua ile pesa, pesa ya Sports Fund, nimesecuritize na nimetengeneza stadium 32.”

As enthusiasm echoed from Siaya across the nation, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) joined in the celebrations back in the capital.

NOC-K President Shadrack Maluki expressed deep pride in the triumph.

“On behalf of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Athletics Kenya, under the leadership of its President, Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Jackson Tuwei, the Government of Kenya, our athletes, the bid team, and all Kenyans on securing the right to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships in Nairobi.”

Underscoring the broader significance of the victory for the continent, Maluki added.

“This is more than a championship. It is an opportunity to showcase Kenya’s excellence, hospitality, culture, and sporting spirit to the world, while affirming Africa’s capacity to host and deliver major global sporting events.”

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe praised Nairobi's compelling bid, emphasizing that bringing the championships to Africa for the first time was both historic and long overdue.

“It was important that the World Championships should come to Africa when we had the right host, the right bid, and the right circumstances,” said the Briton.

“Nairobi has demonstrated emphatically that this is their moment to supercharge the development of our sport in Kenya and across Africa, leaving a compelling legacy that inspires a continent.”

Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala praised the decision on X, saying: "What a time to be a Kenyan athlete."

Paul Tergat, a former marathon world record holder and ex-president of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya, called it "truly momentous", and said Nairobi and Kenya "deserve this honour".

In the high-altitude training camps of Iten and Eldoret, young distance runners paused mid-stride as radios, televisions, and social media blared the official confirmation.

The long journey spearheaded by Athletics Kenya (AK) president Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Jackson Tuwei and the dedicated bid team had finally reached its ultimate finish line.