Africa to host World Athletics Championships for first time

The World Athletics Championships are heading to Africa for the first time, as Kenya’s capital Nairobi was confirmed as host of the 2029 edition of track and field’s premier event. Kenya has long been a superpower in distance running and is second on the all-time world medal table behind only the US, reports TimesLIVE. The championships return to Germany in 2031 after a 22-year wait, 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.’ Salim Mvurya, the Kenyan Minister responsible for sports, said: ‘The world will come to a country where running is more than competition; it is our national story.’ The championships will use a stadium that’s already being upgraded for Kenya co-hosting soccer’s Africa Cup of Nations next year. 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.

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