"VAN" (Sports Desk - 12.10.2026) :: Kenyan middle-distance runner Dorcus Ewoi has defended Nairobi’s successful bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, insisting that Kenya and Africa deserve the opportunity despite criticism following London’s failure to win the hosting rights.
Ewoi, speaking exclusively to AIPS Media in London, said hosting the championships would represent a landmark moment for a country and continent that have contributed enormously to athletics.
“Honestly, we deserve it. We have never hosted anything of this scale before, and Kenya and Africa have contributed so much to this sport,” Ewoi said.
“Winning the hosting rights means a lot to Kenya and Africa.”
World Athletics announced on September 15 that Nairobi would host the 2029 championships, beating bids from London and Rome, while Munich was awarded the 2031 edition. The decision means Africa will host the sport’s flagship outdoor competition for the first time.
The decision was celebrated in Kenya but disappointed British officials and supporters, particularly after London’s bid received backing of about £45m in public funding.
London last hosted the championships in 2017 and had hoped to bring the event back to the capital.
Ewoi responds to criticism of Nairobi’s bid
The decision also reignited debate about Kenya’s anti-doping record, with critics questioning whether the country should host an event of this magnitude while numerous athletes have faced sanctions for doping violations.
Ewoi, however, believes the criticism should not overshadow the opportunity for Kenya to stage the championships for the first time.
“They should just let us have it,” she said.
“It does not cost anything to let us host it once and enjoy the moment, especially as it is our first time. We deserve it.”
Her comments come amid wider discussions about the growth of athletics beyond its traditional strongholds in Europe and North America.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe defended the decision, insisting that Nairobi’s selection was based on more than the historic significance of bringing the championships to Africa for the first time.
“What I can tell you is that, yes, of course, we see the historical, ground-breaking nature of taking the World Athletics Championships to Africa, but that alone is not the basis upon the decision,” Coe said.
“It was made across budgets, it was made across financial government guarantees, it was made across the growth potential of the sport.”
He also acknowledged Nairobi’s progress since its unsuccessful bid for the 2025 edition, which was awarded to Tokyo.
“We will, of course, be sitting down with all the bidding cities. And remember, in the past we have had bidding cities that had been unsuccessful that have come back into the frame and understood and grasped, as Nairobi has, the challenges of putting forward another bid,” he added.
Nairobi’s successful bid was supported by its experience of hosting international competitions, including the 2017 World Athletics Under-18 Championships and the 2021 World Athletics Under-20 Championships. The city also hosts the Kip Keino Classic, one of Africa’s leading one-day athletics meetings.
Kasarani Stadium, the proposed venue for the 2029 championships, is undergoing renovation ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Kenya also arrives at the hosting decision with a formidable record on the track. The country finished second in the medal table at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, winning seven gold medals and 11 medals overall.
Ewoi targets Beijing 2027 World Championships
While welcoming the opportunity for Kenya to host the global event, Ewoi is already looking ahead to her next major assignment.
The Kenyan runner identified the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing as her primary target after the conclusion of the current season.
“Next year, we have the World Championships in Beijing, and that is the big target,” she said.
“For now, I am going to take a break after finishing the season, refocus and then build towards the championships.”
After finishing second in Tokyo to win silver, the 2027 championships will provide another opportunity for Ewoi to establish herself among the world’s leading 1500m runners before Kenya takes centre stage as host of the global competition two years later.
Cr-AIPS
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