Kenyan athletics legend Kipchoge Keino believes the 2029 World Athletics Championships will give the country an opportunity to showcase its sporting heritage while opening up new avenues for sports tourism.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsNairobi will host the global championships after Kenya’s bid beats London, Rome, and Munich. The event will be the first edition of the World Athletics Championships to be staged in Africa.Keino views the event as an opportunity to demonstrate Kenya’s ability to host a major global competition while also promoting the country as a leading destination for athletics training.##NAJAVA_MECA_9985331##“Hosting the World Athletics Championships in Kenya is a major opportunity and shows how far the country has come,” Keino said in Eldoret on Friday.“Our athletes have helped put Kenya on the global map, and now we have an opportunity to welcome the world and show that we are capable of hosting an event of this scale. We shall be engaging with the federations and other stakeholders to ensure that we are fully prepared. As a destination, we are ready to demonstrate what Kenya can offer,” he added.The championships are already expected to create opportunities beyond the competition itself, with Kenya’s high-altitude training camps attracting growing interest from international athletes and sports enthusiasts.Tigst Assefa chasing Ruth Chepngetich's marathon world record in BerlinThe North Rift, which has built a global reputation through Kenya’s success in distance running, is at the center of the emerging sports tourism opportunity.The region’s training camps have received inquiries from athletes interested in travelling to Kenya for training, with interest reported from Europe, Asia, Australia, and the United States.The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) sees the growing interest as an opportunity to expand the country’s sports tourism offering and give visitors a chance to experience the environment that has produced some of the world’s leading distance runners.KTB chairman Francis Gichaba said the focus will be on developing experiences that go beyond athletics competitions and expose visitors to the region’s landscapes, training camps, and communities.Veteran coach explains how sprint records could fall in Nairobi 2029 World Championships“We are actively mapping and packaging the region’s key attractions, with sports tourism as a major selling point. The opportunity is to allow visitors to experience not just the competitions in the stadiums, but also the journey, environment, and communities that produce our champions,” Gichaba said.KTB plans to combine athletics with nature, culture, adventure, and community experiences as part of a wider tourism package for the North Rift.The strategy is expected to encourage visitors attending the 2029 championships to extend their stays and explore other parts of the region while supporting local tourism businesses.##NAJAVA_MECA_9985322##With Nairobi set to welcome athletes, officials, and fans from around the world, the championships could provide Kenya with a platform to turn its long-standing athletics reputation into a wider sports tourism attraction.
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