Kenya will make athletics history in 2029, when Nairobi becomes the first African city to host the World Athletics Championships.

World Athletics confirmed Nairobi as the host for the 2029 edition following its Council meeting in Budapest on 15 September, with Munich, Germany, selected to host the 2031 championships.

World Championships come to Africa for the first time, with Namibia set to benefit from a home-continent advantage. Athletics Namibia president Leon Nienaber says Nairobi’s selection to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships could create significant opportunities for Namibian athletes.

Nienaber described the decision as “huge”, noting that it will be the first time the World Athletics Championships are staged on African soil. He highlighted several potential benefits for Namibia, including reduced travel costs and easier access for athletes and supporters.

According to Nienaber, travelling to Nairobi will be considerably shorter than journeys to destinations such as Tokyo, Budapest or Beijing. He said this could make it possible for Athletics Namibia to send larger teams while also allowing more Namibian supporters to attend. Nienaber also pointed to Nairobi’s altitude of about 1 700 metres above sea level, although he acknowledged that athletes will still need to adapt to the specific conditions.

He believes the championships could also leave a wider African athletics legacy through increased development programmes, coaching opportunities, youth initiatives and greater investment in the sport. For Namibia’s young athletes, Nienaber said seeing a global championship staged on African soil could provide inspiration and demonstrate that athletes from the continent can compete on the world’s biggest stage.

He further expects Nairobi 2029 to create greater opportunities for African athletes to compete in regional events and pursue qualification. Another potential benefit, he said, is increased international exposure for Namibian athletes, particularly among scouts, agents and university scholarship programmes.

Nienaber believes Namibia should begin preparations well ahead of the championships, including strategic qualification planning and altitude training. “With three years to prepare, we need to start planning now,” Nienaber said, stressing the importance of using the Nairobi opportunity to strengthen Namibian athletics.

By Rudi Bowe