London’s attempt to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships has concluded unsuccessfully, as the event will be held in Nairobi, marking a significant milestone as it becomes the first city in Africa to host this prestigious competition.

At a press briefing in Budapest, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe characterized the choice of Nairobi as historic, promising an “innovative championships” that would set new standards.

This decision raises questions due to the fact that 318 top Kenyan athletes have faced bans for breaching anti-doping regulations since the establishment of the Athletics Integrity Unit in 2017. However, a representative from World Athletics defended the selection, highlighting that the Kenyan government has pledged $5 million (£3.7 million) annually towards anti-doping initiatives.

“Kenya has made significant progress in this area, and we believe that hosting the world championships in Nairobi can serve as a strong motivator for the Kenyan government’s ongoing anti-doping efforts,” the spokesperson remarked. “It will draw attention to clean sports and unify the nation in support of compliance.”

While Nairobi and Munich, which will host the 2031 championships, celebrated their victories, London was left to contend with disappointment.

One high-ranking member of the London bid team, which had been viewed as a leading contender for 2029, expressed their dismay, stating they felt “extremely let down.”

Concerns about the £45 million bid—comprising £35 million from the government and £10 million from the mayor’s office—began to emerge over the weekend, despite London believing it had a strong case. The prospect of 60,000 fans attending track and field events nightly for an entire week was seen as a significant advantage.

Jack Buckner, the CEO of UK Athletics, expressed his disappointment, stating, “We are incredibly disheartened. We believed our bid was exceptional and could elevate the sport to new heights.”

He added, “Even though today’s news is not in our favor, we will reassess and regroup. We understand that athletes enjoy competing here, and we will continue to seek out more opportunities for that.”

Looking back, the extended negotiations with West Ham for stadium access in September 2029—which were resolved just before the bid submission—were less than ideal. Additionally, the low attendance during the early days of last month’s European Athletics Championships in Birmingham may have contributed to the outcome.

Nevertheless, the London 2027 team believed these elements were not decisive, suggesting that World Athletics had a strong desire to see Kenya host the championships, along with the scale of Nairobi’s proposal.

Lord Coe reiterated that various factors influenced the decision. “Certainly, the groundbreaking aspect of bringing the World Athletics Championships to Africa is significant, but it was not the sole reason for our choice,” he noted. “Decisions were based on budgets, financial guarantees from the government, and the sport’s growth potential, supported by thorough analysis.”

Coe also responded to concerns regarding Kenya’s selection, which would mean Europe, home to the largest track and field fan base, will have hosted only one World Athletics Championships—from Budapest in 2023 to 2031.