World Athletics boss Sebastian Coe says the 2029 Championships in Nairobi will leave behind lasting know-how for African athletics.
Africa's moment on the global athletics stage is coming, and Nairobi is the host. The Kenyan capital will stage the 2029 World Athletics Championships, and World Athletics president Sebastian Coe says the impact will reach well beyond the ten days of competition.
Coe describes the payoff as a legacy of experience and expertise. The idea is that the work of staging a world championship leaves behind skilled organisers, officials, and operational know-how that African athletics can draw on for years. Hosting at this level is a training ground as much as a showpiece.
The symbolism matters too. Kenya has long been a powerhouse of distance running, producing generations of champions who have defined the sport on the world stage. Bringing the flagship global event to Nairobi gives the continent a chance to host the sport in the place that has given it so much, and it signals Africa's growing weight in global sports governance.
Now the focus turns to delivery. Between now and 2029, expect the spotlight on Nairobi's preparations to grow as the continent aims to prove that African soil can host world-class athletics on the biggest stage.
