Africa to host World Athletics Championships for first time, Nairobi confirmed as host

FILE PHOTO: The decision brings recognition of Kenya’s status as a track nation. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

The World Athletics Championships are heading to Africa for the first time as Kenya’s capital Nairobi was confirmed Tuesday as host of the 2029 edition.

Kenya has long been a superpower in distance running but has yet to host an event of this scale. The championships return to Germany in 2031 with Munich hosting.

“Taking our championships to Africa for the first time will be historic,” World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said as he announced the decision following the Ultimate Championship in Hungary. “Athletics is woven into the fabric of Kenya.”

The decision brings recognition of Kenya’s status as a track nation, but is likely to bring extra scrutiny of the East African nation’s history of top runners being busted for doping.

Marathon world record holder Ruth Chepng’etich is serving a three-year doping ban after joining the many elite-level Kenyan runners suspended over the past decade.

After the new Ultimate Championship brought big cash prizes instead of medals for an invitation-only field of track’s biggest names, it’s back to the traditional worlds format next year in Beijing.

The world championships run for 10 days, against three for the new Ultimate Championship, with a full slate of events. That means including competitions like the men’s triple jump, shot put, walks and marathon which weren’t on the schedule in Budapest last week.