Sebastian Coe Defends Nairobi’s 2029 World Athletics Championships Bid, Says Kenya Beat Strong Global Competition

 By Wasike Elvis 

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has defended Nairobi’s selection to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, insisting that Kenya emerged from a highly competitive bidding process involving four major international cities.

Speaking to journalists at Eldoret International Airport after meeting President William Ruto at Eldoret State Lodge, Coe expressed confidence in Kenya’s ability to organise the global athletics event, describing the hosting rights as a historic achievement for the country and the African continent.

Coe said Nairobi’s selection followed a rigorous evaluation process by the World Athletics Council, dismissing concerns raised after the announcement that the Kenyan capital might not be the most suitable city to host the championships.

He noted that Nairobi competed against Munich in Germany, London in the United Kingdom and Rome in Italy, describing all four cities as outstanding candidates that presented strong bids.

According to Coe, the competition was among the most competitive bidding rounds World Athletics had ever conducted, with the final decision based on clearly defined evaluation criteria.

He said the council, comprising 26 members drawn from different parts of the world, had carefully assessed the competing cities before settling on Nairobi as the host of the 2029 edition.

Coe also pointed out that Munich had been selected to host the 2031 championships, while London and Rome had previously staged the global competition.

His remarks come amid discussions over Nairobi’s preparedness to host an event that attracts elite athletes, coaches, officials, international media and athletics fans from across the world.

The World Athletics president maintained that Kenya had earned the opportunity through a competitive process and expressed confidence that the country could deliver the championships through cooperation among the government, athletics authorities and other stakeholders.

### Ruto pledges government support

Coe said his meeting with President Ruto at Eldoret State Lodge was an important part of his visit, providing an opportunity to discuss preparations for the championships and the responsibilities of the different institutions expected to oversee the event.

He said the President had committed to supporting the preparations and working closely with World Athletics and the local organising team to ensure the successful delivery of the competition.

According to Coe, the discussions focused on the opportunities the championships would create for athletes and communities across Kenya, as well as the need for all stakeholders to work together towards a common goal.

He emphasised that organising the World Athletics Championships was a complex undertaking that required careful planning, coordination and effective project management.

Coe said he was pleased with the cooperation demonstrated by the officials he met during his visit, including Athletics Kenya President General Jackson Tuwei, members expected to participate in the local organising committee and the Cabinet Secretary responsible for sports.

He added that the support expressed by President Ruto provided an encouraging foundation for the work ahead.

With three years remaining before the championships, the World Athletics chief said the country would need sustained collaboration among government agencies, athletics administrators and other partners to turn the hosting opportunity into a successful event.

### Kenya to make history as Africa hosts championships for the first time

The 2029 World Athletics Championships will mark a major milestone in the history of athletics, with Kenya becoming the host nation for the first edition of the competition to be staged on African soil.

Coe described the development as a proud moment for both Kenya and the continent, noting that the championships would create opportunities extending beyond the athletes competing for medals.

The event is expected to bring together some of the world's leading track and field athletes, placing Kenya under the international spotlight and providing an opportunity to showcase its sporting talent, facilities and hospitality.

Kenya has a long history of producing internationally recognised distance runners and other elite athletes who have represented the country at major global competitions.

Hosting the championships is expected to strengthen the country's position in international athletics while providing opportunities for local athletes, coaches, technical officials and sports administrators to interact with leading figures in the sport.

The event could also offer opportunities for the hospitality, transport and tourism sectors through the anticipated arrival of international delegations, spectators and media personnel.

However, successful delivery will depend on preparations involving sporting infrastructure, accommodation, transport, security, medical services and other logistical requirements associated with hosting a major international championship.

Coe said the scale of the undertaking made teamwork essential, stressing that all parties involved would need to maintain a coordinated approach throughout the preparation period.

### Coe highlights growth of athletics in Africa

The World Athletics president also highlighted the expansion of international athletics competitions across Africa during his presidency, saying the continent had made progress in securing opportunities to host major events.

He cited the World Athletics U20 Championships and World Athletics U18 Championships held in Nairobi, the World Cross Country Championships hosted in Uganda and the introduction of the World Athletics Relays on the continent.

He also pointed to the presence of a Diamond League meeting in Africa and the Continental Tour as important developments in expanding competitive opportunities for athletes.

According to Coe, the 2029 World Athletics Championships would represent the highest-profile addition to these efforts, giving Africa the opportunity to host the sport's premier global track and field competition.

He said World Athletics had remained committed to creating more opportunities for athletes to compete internationally without having to travel exclusively to traditional athletics destinations outside the continent.

Coe further revealed that discussions were ongoing between World Athletics, Athletics Kenya and other African federations on the possibility of establishing an African athletics circuit.

The proposed circuit would aim to expand competition opportunities across the continent, potentially giving more athletes access to high-level events and supporting the development of athletics in different countries.

Such competitions could also help athletes gain experience, improve their performances and prepare for major international championships.

### Kenya could attract international athletes ahead of 2029

Coe also welcomed the prospect of international athletes travelling to Kenya ahead of the championships to train and acclimatise to local conditions.

Responding to a question on whether athletes from different parts of the world might use Kenya as a preparation base, he said spending time in the host environment before a major competition made sense.

Drawing from his own experience as a former competitive athlete, Coe explained that athletes often benefit from arriving early enough to familiarise themselves with their surroundings and adjust to conditions before competing.

He noted that acclimatisation, time differences and other environmental factors could influence an athlete's preparation for a major championship.

Coe said he could see no compelling reason why athletes would not want to spend time in Kenya ahead of the event.

Kenya is internationally known for its high-altitude training environments, particularly in areas such as Iten in Elgeyo-Marakwet County and other parts of the Rift Valley that have attracted elite distance runners from across the world.

The 2029 championships could therefore create additional opportunities for sports tourism, training camps and partnerships between Kenyan athletes and international competitors.

For local communities, increased sporting activity could support demand for accommodation, transport, training facilities and other services associated with visiting athletes and support teams.

### Focus shifts to preparations

Coe's visit and meeting with President Ruto signal the importance of early coordination as Kenya prepares to stage one of the biggest events on the international athletics calendar.

The country will be expected to work closely with World Athletics to address the technical and logistical demands of hosting the championships while ensuring that the event meets international standards.

The local organising committee, Athletics Kenya and government agencies will have important responsibilities in planning and coordinating the preparations.

Beyond the competition itself, Kenya will also have an opportunity to use the event to promote athletics among young people, strengthen sports infrastructure and expand the continent's participation in international sporting events.

Coe expressed satisfaction with the discussions held during his visit, saying the cooperation demonstrated by the various stakeholders boded well for the delivery of the championships.

As preparations continue, attention is expected to focus on the development of facilities, coordination among the responsible institutions and the measures required to ensure that Nairobi successfully hosts the historic 2029 championships.

The event will mark Africa's first opportunity to stage the World Athletics Championships, placing Kenya at the centre of a landmark moment for the sport and presenting the country with an opportunity to demonstrate its capacity to organise a major global sporting competition.