Nairobi’s successful bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships was driven by more than Kenya’s reputation as an athletics powerhouse.
World Athletics identified Kenya’s deep connection with the sport, huge fan base and strong engagement with athletics as some of the factors that made Nairobi’s bid stand out.
Kenyan fans rank among the most engaged audiences on World Athletics’ social media channels, placing the country fourth globally in terms of fan engagement.
Kenya also emerged as the single most interested market for athletics, with 68 per cent of Kenyans rating their interest in the sport compared to a global average of 38 per cent.
The country also recorded the highest Net Promoter Score of any market, another indication of the strong support athletics enjoys among Kenyans.
Athletics is the second most followed sport in Kenya, further underlining the country’s strong sporting culture and the potential for a massive home audience during the championships.
These factors strengthened Nairobi’s case as it competed against major European cities, including London, Rome and Munich.
Kenya’s long history in athletics also played a key role. The country has produced some of the world’s greatest distance runners and has hosted several major international competitions.
The decision now gives Kenya the opportunity to showcase its athletics culture to a global audience while making history as the first African host of the World Athletics Championships.
For World Athletics, Nairobi offers something the other bids could not easily match: a country where athletics is deeply rooted in the national culture and enjoys exceptional public interest.
The 2029 championships will therefore be both a sporting event and a landmark moment for African athletics.