Photo via BBC Sport

London misses out to Nairobi in World Athletics bid

Nairobi has secured the right to stage the 2029 World Athletics Championships, edging out a rival proposal from London during a governing body council gathering held in Budapest. This landmark choice marks the very first occasion the competition will take place on the African continent.

London had intended to stage the action at the London Stadium, which currently serves West Ham United and previously staged the 2012 Summer Olympics, the 2017 edition of the championships, and the annual London Diamond League. Rome also fell short in the selection process.

World Athletics simultaneously selected Munich as the host for the 2031 championships, an appointment that will see the German city's Olympic stadium welcome the gathering for a third occasion. World Athletics leader Sebastian Coe highlighted that choosing between the four impressive candidates proved difficult, but noted that holding the upcoming three competitions across Asia, Africa, and Europe directly supports the goal of expanding track and field globally.

Coe praised Nairobi and Munich for delivering distinct, compelling proposals and expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with both locations.