(NAIROBI, KENYA) – Nairobi will host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, a selection that promises significant economic benefits for Kenya through local business activity, construction, tourism and services before and during the event.
Nairobi beat other rivals including Rome and London to become the first African city to stage the event. The selection marked a major win for Nairobi, which had previously failed in its bid to host the event in 2025, which went to Tokyo. Munich was picked to host the 2031 World Athletics Championships.
“We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the Council,” World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said.
“Nairobi and Munich ultimately presented two compelling propositions. They offer very different but equally exciting opportunities for our sport, and I am delighted that we can now begin working with both cities to stage two world-class championships.”
The 2029 World Athletics Championships events will take place at Kasarani Stadium, which is currently under renovation to host matches at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
A review of the previous World Athletics Championships revealed massive economic benefits for the host cities. The economic opportunity extends beyond ticket sales, with thousands of athletes, officials, media representatives and spectators expected to generate demand for services in hotels, transport, retail, among other sectors.
The latest edition, which was hosted in Tokyo last year, provides an indication of the scale involved, with about 620,000 spectators attending the 2025 championships and 1,992 athletes representing 193 countries and the Refugee Team.
The Tokyo event also recorded about 860 accredited media representatives from 79 countries, while its television and digital platforms extended the competition’s reach beyond spectators attending the stadium.
The World Athletics Organisation said three of its 2025 events, including the Tokyo championships, generated a combined economic impact of $522 million (KES 67.67 billion / GBP 413 million / EUR 481 million), with some 619,288 stadium fans gracing the events where 1,992 athletes competed.
The organisation says that in last year’s Tokyo experience, its 2025 ticket marketing strategy generated more than $3 million (KES 388.9 million / GBP 2.37 million / EUR 2.77 million), creating a model it intends to develop for future hosts and events.
Nairobi’s selection to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships gives Kenya a major international sporting platform but puts pressure on the country to fast track upgrades to stadiums, transport networks, and hospitality facilities to meet international standards.
The event also provides a platform for Kenyan businesses to sell services to international visitors and companies, particularly in hospitality, logistics, security, and destination management.
Kasarani is expected to serve as the main competition venue and is already undergoing refurbishment, while Kenya has been upgrading sports infrastructure ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The government has also been constructing the 60,000 seat Talanta Sports City in Nairobi, although the facility is primarily designed for football.
The Treasury’s 2026 Budget Policy Statement (BPS) said Talanta Sports City, also known as Raila Odinga Stadium, was about 68% complete and was being developed as a 60,000 seat multipurpose facility, with more than 3,300 workers involved in construction.
The government has recently set a target to borrow KES 38.74 billion ($300 million / GBP 237 million / EUR 276 million) against the Sports Fund to complete the construction of 33 new and existing stadiums across the country.
The new facility will mark the second securitisation under the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund, after the KES 44.8 billion ($347 million / GBP 274 million / EUR 319 million) Talanta bond whose proceeds are in use in the construction of the stadium in Nairobi.
The tourism sector further stands as another potential beneficiary of the athletics championship, particularly if Kenya converts the event into longer stays and combines it with safari, coastal and cultural tourism packages.