Daily News 19

Tag: World Athletics

  • Kenya Wins Bid to Host 2029 World Athletics Championships, Beating London, Munich, Rome

    Kenya Wins Bid to Host 2029 World Athletics Championships, Beating London, Munich, Rome

    Kenya is pressing ahead with preparations for the 2029 World Athletics Championships in Nairobi, with organisers expressing confidence in both funding security and stadium attendance despite upcoming presidential elections and a recent spike in doping cases.

    Funding Guaranteed Across Political Transitions

    Barnaba Korir, a key figure in the local organising committee, stated that the financial commitment for the Championships is protected regardless of the election outcome next year. He described the allocated figure as “huge” and “legally binding”.

    “Whatever the government assigns now will be observed by the next government. It is an international agreement,” he said.

    Ticketing Strategy Targets Local Access and Full Stands

    Organisers are prioritising a ticketing model that prevents the local population from being priced out while ensuring strong attendance across all sessions. The memory of the 2017 World Under‑18 Championships serves as a cautionary tale: the cheapest tickets were priced at 200 Kenyan shillings (approximately $1.15), yet stands remained sparsely filled until entry was made free.

    By contrast, the 2025 Tokyo Championships generated $522 million in revenue for World Athletics, with 619,000 tickets sold over nine days, while London 2017 set a record with 705,000 tickets sold. World Athletics opted for Nairobi over a return to London, choosing geographic expansion over guaranteed ticket sales — a decision that will be closely watched after the low attendances seen in Doha in 2019.

    Korir remains optimistic, predicting the Kasarani Stadium “will be full” on “every day” of competition, including morning sessions, provided sales begin early enough.

    Doping Scandals Add Pressure on Host Nation

    Kenya’s anti‑doping record has come under intense scrutiny. The Athletics Integrity Unit has banned 11 Kenyan individuals so far this year alone, adding urgency to the country’s pledge to deliver a clean and credible Championships in 2029.

    The pressure is now on the East African nation to fulfill its organisational promises and ensure the event passes without major controversy.

    Additional reporting by Ian Williams and Celestine Karoney.

  • London Loses 2029 World Athletics Championships Bid to Nairobi

    London Loses 2029 World Athletics Championships Bid to Nairobi

    Nairobi Wins Bid to Host 2029 World Athletics Championships, Marking Historic First for Africa

    London has lost its bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships to Nairobi, Kenya. The decision was confirmed during a World Athletics Council meeting in Budapest, ensuring an African city will host the global event for the first time in history.

    Coe Hails Nairobi’s “Compelling and Emotional” Bid

    World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described the selection process as highly competitive, with four outstanding bids submitted for the 2029 and 2031 editions.

    “We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the council,” said Coe.

    Coe emphasized the strategic importance of expanding the championship’s global footprint.

    “With this decision today, we continue to fulfil our mission of growing athletics worldwide with the hosting of our World Athletics Championships in Asia, Africa and Europe over its next three editions.”

    He further highlighted the historic significance of the African continent hosting the event.

    “Nairobi presented a compelling and emotional bid, and taking the World Athletics Championships to Africa for the first time will be historic.”

    Coe stressed that the timing and readiness of the Kenyan capital were decisive factors.

    “It was important that the World Athletics Championships should come to Africa when we had the right host, the right bid and the right circumstances. Nairobi has demonstrated emphatically that this is their moment.”

    London Bid Leveraged 2012 Olympic Legacy

    The UK bid centered on the London Stadium, home to Premier League club West Ham United. The venue previously hosted the 2012 Olympic Games, the annual London Diamond League meet, and the 2017 World Athletics Championships. The bid was spearheaded by Athletic Ventures, a consortium comprising UK Athletics, London Marathon Events, and the Great Run Company.

    UK Athletics Expresses “Deep Disappointment” but Congratulates Nairobi

    Jack Buckner, CEO of UK Athletics and co-founder of Athletic Ventures, acknowledged the strength of the British proposal while accepting the outcome.

    “We are deeply disappointed that the 2029 World Athletics Championships will not be held in London. We believed we had an outstanding bid which would genuinely take the sport to new levels.”

    Buckner extended gratitude to the extensive network of public and private stakeholders that supported the campaign.

    “We would like to thank the Government, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London and UK Sport for their fantastic support for our bid. Our thanks also to the London Stadium, West Ham United and our many stakeholders for their commitment and hard work to put the bid together.”

    He concluded with a message of sportsmanship toward the winning bid.

    “Our congratulations go to Nairobi and we wish the organising committee all the best for a great event in 2029.”

    Munich Selected for 2031 Edition; Nairobi’s Infrastructure Gains Momentum

    Rome was the other candidate to miss out for 2029. World Athletics simultaneously confirmed that Munich will host the 2031 World Athletics Championships, marking the first time the German city stages the event.

    Nairobi previously bid for the 2025 championships, which were awarded to Tokyo. The Kenyan capital’s case was strengthened by the ongoing renovation of Kasarani Stadium ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Kenya’s strong performance at the 2025 edition—finishing second in the medal table with seven golds and 11 total medals—further underscored the nation’s standing in the sport.

  • Usain Bolt: “Today I would run the 100 meters in 9.40”

    Usain Bolt: “Today I would run the 100 meters in 9.40”

    Usain Bolt, serving as ambassador for World Athletics’ new “Ultimate Championship” in Budapest this Friday through Sunday, predicted that modern track surfaces and advanced footwear would have pushed his own times even lower. The Jamaican legend, who holds world records in both the 100 and 200 meters, turned 40 recently and assessed the current state of international athletics in an interview with La Gazzetta.

    Bolt Projects Faster Times With Modern Technology

    Reflecting on today’s equipment, Bolt stated that “he would have run somewhat faster than 9.40 in the 100 meters. And in the 200 meters perhaps under 19, a mark I really would have liked to achieve”.

    Events Beyond the Sprints Capture His Attention

    While his legacy rests on the shortest races, Bolt revealed a broader fascination with the sport. He highlighted that “apart from my distances, I always passionately follow the 800 meters, which are now almost a sprint race, and the 110-meter hurdles. Then I think the javelin throw should be valued more, since its protagonists are true phenomena”.

    “Except for my distances, I always follow the 800 meters with passion, which is now almost a sprint race”

    Usain Bolt

    Rivals Past and Present

    Asked which athletes from history he would have liked to face, Bolt named “Maurice Greene, because he was a showman, and Michael Johnson, because he dominated”. Regarding current competitors, he diplomatically selected a few compatriots: “there are so many, and not to offend anyone, I will mention some of my compatriot sprinters: Oblique Seville, world champion in the 100 meters, and the twins Tia and Tina Clayton”.

    Records Safe for Now, But Family Looms

    On the longevity of his 9.58-second 100m and 19.19-second 200m marks, Bolt remained confident: “Will my records be broken? Not soon, I don’t see anyone capable. But I have two children…” He reiterated the stance later, saying “Not soon, I don’t see anyone capable. But I have two children…”

    When asked about his legendary status, he emphasized that “it means being on the same level as champions like Muhammad Ali and Pelé: an extraordinary effect”.

    Advice to His Younger Self

    Bolt acknowledged a career regret, advising his younger self to work harder: “I was wrong to think that talent was enough. If I had believed that, my first Olympic Games, Athens 2004, would have been different”.

    Robot Racing Fails to Impress

    The sprint icon dismissed exhibition races against machines, calling them “Fun, but they didn’t excite me too much.”