Kipchoge makes bold declaration on Kenya's 2029 World Championships hosting bid
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 06.07.26. | 07:57
A successful bid would see Kenya become the first African nation to host the senior World Athletics Championships
Kenya's greatest marathoner, Eliud Kipchoge, has launched an impassioned appeal for Nairobi to be awarded the 2029 World Athletics Championships, arguing that no nation has done more to shape the sport over the past four decades.
The two-time Olympic champion said giving Kenya the hosting rights would not only recognise the country's extraordinary contribution to athletics but also deliver a historic first for Africa, which has never staged the senior World Championships.
Speaking during a virtual media briefing with international journalists, Kipchoge insisted Kenya had long proved itself on the track and roads and now deserved the opportunity to showcase its passion for athletics as a host nation.
"I'm telling the world to give us the chance. Giving Kenya the chance is giving back to the sport. Kenya has been winning all the medals and breaking all the world records, winning the Diamond Leagues... winning everything.
"The only gift that the world can give Kenya is to accept and give us the chance to host the World Championships in 2029. It will be a huge moment for Kenya and for Africa."
The former world marathon record holder said Kenya's influence on athletics extends far beyond medals, noting that generations of Kenyan runners have inspired the sport on the global stage.
"Kenya has been in the limelight in track and field for the last 40 years. It's time the world said, 'Let's give this beautiful country and this young continent the opportunity to host the World Championships.' That is the greatest gift the world can give Africa, and above all, Kenya."
Nairobi is one of the frontrunners to host the 2029 championships, with the winning bid expected to be announced next month during the Ultimate Championships in Budapest. The Kenyan capital faces competition from London.
A successful bid would see Kenya become the first African nation to host the senior World Athletics Championships, a landmark achievement for a country that has produced countless Olympic, world and Diamond League champions while also staging several successful World Athletics age-group events.
