Kenya will make history as the first African country to host the World Athletics Championships after Nairobi was selected to stage the 2029 edition of the global event.
World Athletics announced the decision on Tuesday following its 242nd Council Meeting held in Budapest, Hungary, on Monday and Tuesday.
Munich, Germany, was selected to host the 2031 Championships, with Nairobi and Munich emerging as the successful bidders from four proposals submitted for the two editions.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said the Council had a difficult decision to make because of the quality of the competing bids.
“We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the Council.
“The quality, ambition and commitment demonstrated by all four candidates underlines the strength and global appeal of the World Athletics Championships,” he said.
Coe said Nairobi and Munich ultimately presented compelling proposals that earned them the hosting rights for their respective editions.
“Nairobi and Munich ultimately presented two compelling propositions. They offer very different but equally exciting opportunities for our sport.
“I am delighted that we can now begin working with both cities to stage two world-class championships,” he said.
Describing Kenya as one of the world’s leading athletics nations, Coe said taking the championships to Africa for the first time would represent a historic moment for the sport.
“Nairobi presented a compelling and emotional bid, and taking the World Athletics Championships to Africa for the first time will be historic.
“Kenya is one of the great athletics nations,” Coe said.
The World Athletics president also explained that the organisation had been waiting for the right host and circumstances before taking its flagship event to the continent.
“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.
“Nairobi has demonstrated emphatically that this is their moment,” he said.
The 2029 Championships will consequently become the first edition of the flagship World Athletics event to be held on African soil.
Nairobi has previously hosted major international athletics competitions, including the 2020 World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Kip Keino Classic and the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships.
Following the 2029 edition in Nairobi, the 2031 World Athletics Championships will be held in Munich, Germany
