World Athletics' decision to hold the 2029 World Championships in Nairobi was not merely the choice of a city, but a symbol of a shift in the global balance of athletics. For the first time in the 46 years of the tournament's existence, Africa will host it on its own soil, and Kenya, a country with a rich running tradition, takes on the role of host.
Nairobi beat London, Rome and Munich in the race for the right to stage the event. Kasarani Stadium, which holds 48 thousand spectators, will undergo reconstruction before the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and already has experience of hosting youth world championships. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe called the Kenyan bid "convincing and emotional", stressing that sport is "woven into the fabric of the country".
Behind this decision lies not only Kenya's sporting history — 72 gold medals at world championships and 38 at the Olympics, mainly in middle- and long-distance running. It is also a strategic calculation by the federation: three consecutive world championships will be held outside Europe — in Beijing in 2027, Nairobi in 2029 and Munich in 2031. Africa gets a chance not merely to host, but also to influence the development of the sport.
Yet behind the historic victory there are also challenges. Kenya faces serious doping problems: more than 130 athletes are currently serving suspensions, and since 2017 more than 300 people have received sanctions. Coe assured that the decision was based on "serious analysis", but the question of trust in the organisation remains open.
For Kenya this is a chance to turn the successes of individual runners into systemic growth of infrastructure and the popularity of athletics on the continent. Just as the Barcelona Olympics once changed Spain, so this championship could become a catalyst for all of African athletics.
The future will show whether Nairobi can justify the trust placed in it and leave a legacy that goes beyond medals. For now, one thing is clear: athletics is finally returning to the continent that has been feeding it with talent for decades.
