Nairobi’s successful bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships has triggered widespread excitement among athletes and sporting figures across Africa.
World Athletics announced on Tuesday that the Kenyan capital had defeated former Olympic hosts London and Rome in the race to stage the prestigious competition.
The championship will be held on African soil for the first time, with events expected to take place at the 48,000-capacity Kasarani Stadium.
Two-time Olympic 10,000m champion Haile Gebrselassie described the decision as “wonderful news” for the continent, saying Nairobi’s success could encourage other African cities to pursue major international sporting events.
Kenyan javelin star Julius Yego, the 2015 world champion, also welcomed the development, calling it a significant achievement for Africa.
He said bringing the world’s leading athletes to Kenya would provide an opportunity for international visitors to experience the continent while allowing Africans to witness a major global athletics competition on home ground.
Kenya has a strong athletics culture, with a World Athletics survey showing that 68% of respondents in the country reported a high level of interest in the sport.
Former 800m world champion Janeth Jepkosgei believes the tournament will also motivate young athletes by giving them a clear ambition to compete for world titles in front of their home supporters.
According to Jepkosgei, promising juniors now have three years to prepare, develop their abilities and remain committed to reaching the 2029 championship.
African 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala said Nairobi’s hosting opportunity could provide a major boost to emerging competitors.
The sprinter recalled being inspired by the 2017 Under-18 World Championships in Nairobi and believes young athletes will benefit from watching international stars compete in their country.
The 2029 championship forms part of a growing calendar of major sporting events on the continent.
Senegal will host the Youth Olympics in Dakar from October 31 to November 13, while South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia are scheduled to stage the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Morocco will also join Spain and Portugal in hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup, marking the tournament’s return to Africa for the first time since South Africa staged it in 2010.
Yego said Nairobi’s successful bid should strengthen Africa’s confidence in its ability to organise global sporting events.
He also urged African countries to consider pursuing the Olympic Games, arguing that the continent has the resources and experience required to stage major international competitions.
Gebrselassie similarly suggested that the Nairobi championship could inspire cities such as Addis Ababa, Lagos and those in Uganda, Rwanda and South Africa to seek opportunities to host major events.
He predicted that Kenya’s organisation of the 2029 championships could demonstrate Africa’s capacity to deliver a successful global sporting spectacle.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong