World Athletics Championships 2029: How Kenya beat London, Munich and Rome to host

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon completed a Kenyan one-two in the women's 5,000m at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, where Kenya won seven golds to finish second in the medal table

Kenya's President William Ruto says the World Athletics Championship will be "coming home", with Nairobi set to make history after being selected as the first African city to host the event in 2029.

Ruto hailed the winning bid as a "victory for generations of athletes" who have made the nation "synonymous with excellence" on the track and road.

Nairobi beat London and Rome to the hosting rights, with Munich selected to stage the 2031 edition.

After missing out on the 2025 World Championships to Tokyo, a series of factors helped Kenya see off its European rivals this time around.