Nairobi 2029: World Athletics Championships in Kenya set to inspire next generation

The decision to award the 2029 World Athletics Championships to Nairobi has prompted an outpouring of celebration across Africa.

Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie, a two-time Olympic 10,000m champion, congratulated the whole continent on the "wonderful news" following the announcement by World Athletics on Tuesday morning.

The Kenyan capital saw off former Olympic Games hosts London and Rome to secure a slice of history, with the event set to be held in Africa for the first time.

Unsurprisingly, news that the globe's top athletes will descend on the 48,000-capacity Kasarani Stadium in three years' time has gone down well with some of East Africa's biggest track and field stars.

Given the passionate following the sport has in Kenya, several commenters have stated that athletics will be "coming home".

Julius Yego, javelin world champion in 2015, said winning the bid is "a huge thing for Africa".

"I'm so happy that the world will come to Kenya," the 37-year-old told the BBC World Service.

"Africa has produced the best of athletes but we've never had a chance to witness such a big championship.

"It is something that will bring people to Africa. And people will know Africa."

Kenyans are known for their love of athletics, with 68% of people from the country who were surveyed by World Athletics rating their interest in the sport as high.

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Gebrselassie expects the atmosphere inside the Kasarani Stadium, which is undergoing redevelopment ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, to be "very different".

"This is something very big in front of your people, in front of your city," he said.

"Many spectators can fly to Nairobi, many people can watch their athletes.

"It's going to be wonderful. I myself will be there to watch.

"Like in soccer, playing at home and then playing [away] is different. It's a big chance for Kenyans, it's a big chance for Ethiopians, in 2029, to win a race."

Janeth Jepkosgei, who won the women's 800m title at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, thinks the "really exciting" decision will inspire the next generation of athletes.

"It means a lot for the youth and the juniors because it makes the dream really big," she said.

"This is the time where the youth and juniors should begin dreaming of winning at home."

Jepkosgei, who has moved into coaching since retiring from competition, says aspiring stars now have a very firm target in mind after being given a chance to challenge for world titles on home soil.

"We have been dreaming with these young ones, setting their goals," she said.

"This is where the young ones we have now can showcase their talent.

"Because we have three years [for] those athletes who are really promising. It is a good way to make them stay dedicated to it, focused and disciplined to the event.

"I've been speaking to my athletes and they're saying 'It has come home, we have to be there, on that starting line'."

Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala, the holder of the African 100m record, was himself inspired by Nairobi hosting the Under-18 World Championships in 2017.

The 30-year-old expects the 2029 event to give a "big boost" to both current athletes and the generations to come.

"I can imagine what this is going to do to up-and-coming athletes," he said.

"They're going to see all these stars coming into the country and they'll be having this chance to watch them warm up and compete. That will be a huge motivation."

Africa will stage several big events over the next four years, with the first of those the upcoming Youth Olympics in the Senegalese capital Dakar from 31 October to 13 November.

South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will host next year's men's Cricket World Cup, while the men's Fifa World Cup will return to the continent for the first time since 2010 when Morocco co-hosts alongside Spain and Portugal in 2030.

Yego feels the landmark of seeing athletics' flagship competition on African soil should give the rest of the continent belief in their abilities to put on major events.

"As Africans, we need to think big and plan ahead and think 'Yes, it is possible for Africa to host a championship like the World Championships'.

"Same of course for the Olympics. Africa hosted the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa, so I think we're capable of hosting big events.

"Let's dream of hosting the Olympics and bring the best of the world in sports to Africa - to feel Africa, to enjoy Africa."

Both Egypt and South Africa have previously said they want to host the 2036 Olympics.

Yego's positive view is shared by Gebrselassie, who also hopes other cities will gain the confidence to bid for global events.

"This is a big chance, not only in sport, in economy, politics. Now Africans can do anything they want," the 53-year-old said.

"If Nairobi can host this championship, why not Addis Ababa? Why not Lagos or South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda?

"In 2029, I think the whole world will be surprised at how well they (Kenya) host."