Another Opportunity Presents Itself For Athletics Kenya Following World Athletics Major Announcement

World Athletics has opened the bidding process for several of its premier out-of-stadium events, giving cities around the world the chance to host the 2028 and 2029 World Athletics Road Running Championships and the 2029 World Athletics Cross Country Championships, an opportunity that Athletics Kenya can now explore.

Member federations were notified of the upcoming chance late last year, allowing countries like Kenya to prepare competitive bids and position themselves as hosts for these high-profile competitions.

The World Athletics Road Running Championships has quickly become a marquee event on the global calendar, featuring elite 5km and half-marathon races with around 350 athletes from 55 nations, alongside mass participation races for recreational runners.

Hosting the event would give Kenya the chance to showcase its growing road-running culture, elevate its international profile, and attract tourism and investment.

Similarly, the World Athletics Cross Country Championships is the ultimate test in off-road running. Bringing together roughly 550 athletes from over 50 countries, the event highlights a host city’s unique landscapes through challenging courses.

For Kenya, known worldwide for its dominance in distance running, hosting the Cross-Country Championships would offer a platform to celebrate its running heritage, inspire the next generation, and further strengthen its standing in global athletics.

Bid guides, including hosting requirements and insights from past events, are available on the World Athletics website.

Interested federations must submit pre-qualification forms by April 3, 2026, presenting a timely and exciting opportunity for Athletics Kenya to bid for a major global athletics event.

Meanwhile, Athletics Kenya officially submitted a formal bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, aiming to bring the prestigious global event to African soil for the first time in history.

The proposal, which was presented during the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, designates the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi, as the primary venue.

This ambitious move is heavily backed by the Kenyan government, with President William Ruto positioning the bid as a key pillar of a national strategy to establish the country as a premier sporting destination.

Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei remains confident, citing the country's rich athletics heritage and recent experience in hosting successful international events like the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

If the bid is successful, it would represent a landmark moment for the continent, finally centring the world’s greatest track and field stars in the ‘home of champions.’