The World Athletics Council has selected Nairobi and Munich to host the World Athletics Championships in 2029 and 2031, respectively, marking the first time the sport’s premier global event will be staged in Africa. According to World Athletics, the decision was reached during the 242nd World Athletics Council Meeting in Budapest, following a competitive bidding process that featured four candidates for the two cycles.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe noted that the council faced a demanding choice among four distinct proposals. The selection ensures that editions of the flagship competition will rotate across Asia, Africa, and Europe, following the previously scheduled 2027 championships in Beijing. For the Italian athletic federation and Rome’s bid, however, the announcement brought a definitive rejection, drawing widespread disappointment across national sporting circles.
A Historic Milestone for African Athletics in Nairobi
Nairobi’s successful bid for 2029 breaks new ground for the sport on the African continent. According to World Athletics, the Kenyan capital’s selection builds upon a sequence of successful continental competitions, including the 2017 World U18 Championships and the 2021 World U20 Championships held at Kasarani Stadium, alongside the 2026 World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana. Nairobi’s proposal centered on the renovated Kasarani Stadium, which is undergoing a comprehensive structural overhaul ahead of hosting the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027. World Athletics research highlights deep local engagement, showing that 68% of surveyed Kenyans rate their interest in athletics as high—substantially above the global average of 39%. Furthermore, Kenya stands as the second-most-successful nation in the history of the World Athletics Championships, finishing second on the medal table at the 2025 championships in Tokyo with seven gold medals and 11 total medals.
Munich Secures the 2031 Championships
For the 2031 edition, the World Athletics Council selected Munich, returning the global championships to Germany for a third time. Competition events will take place inside Munich’s iconic Olympic Stadium. The venue previously hosted the 1972 Summer Olympic Games and the 2022 European Athletics Championships, providing an established operational framework for a major international gathering.
Rejection and Reaction in Rome
The council’s choice left Rome’s bid without an assignment. According to reporting by the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Rome’s proposal included a government financial guarantee of approximately 100 million euros, but failed to secure a favorable recommendation from the seven-member evaluation panel chaired by Finland’s Antti Pihlakoski.
Italian sports media noted that lingering concerns over low spectator attendance at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico during the June 2024 European Athletics Championships may have negatively influenced the evaluation. Mei, president of the Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL), addressed the outcome in remarks covered by the news agency ANSA, stating that the federation accepts the decision with respect while expressing regret for the country’s athletes. Luciano Buonfiglio, president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), expressed similar disappointment in comments reported by Sportmediaset, noting that Italy will look toward alternative events to showcase the Stadio Olimpico and support the sport.
Next Steps for the Global Calendar
With host cities locked in through 2031, attention turns to the immediate global calendar. The World Athletics indoor circuit continues toward the next world indoor championships scheduled for Bhubaneswar, India, in 2028, and Astana, Kazakhstan, in 2030, while Beijing prepares to stage the outdoor World Athletics Championships in 2027.
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