Nairobi to Host 2029 World Athletics Championships — image accompanying The Guardian Athletics's report. Photograph: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
Nairobi will host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, marking the first time an African city will hold the event. London's bid was unsuccessful despite being seen as a frontrunner. World Athletics president Seb Coe praised Nairobi's bid as compelling and emotional.
Munich was announced as the host for the 2031 event, with Coe highlighting its strong presentation and history of hosting major athletics events. The decision was described as difficult due to the quality of all four bids, which also included Rome. Read more racing coverage.
Coe emphasized the importance of taking the championships to Africa, citing Kenya's rich athletics history and the country's role as a hub for the sport. The championships will next take place in Beijing in 2027. Related: World Athletics Maintains Stance on Russian Athletes' Ban - Coe.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from The Guardian Athletics. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
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What should runners know about Nairobi to Host 2029 World Athletics Championships?
Nairobi selected over London for 2029 event, marking first African host city. Nairobi will host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, marking the first time an African city will hold the event. London's bid was unsuccessful despite being seen as a frontrunner. World Athletics president Seb Coe praised Nairobi's bid as compelling and emotional.
When did Runner World publish this racing brief?
Runner World published this brief on September 15, 2026. The underlying The Guardian Athletics report was dated September 15, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from The Guardian Athletics. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
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