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Rome enters 2029 Worlds race as London confirms bid
Four cities in contention, decision expected in September
Tobia Marenghi405 wordsEdition №76Saturday, 8 August 2026 — Edition № 76
London has formally submitted its bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships after reaching an agreement with West Ham to use their stadium, the Guardian reported on Thursday. The British capital will face Rome, Munich and Nairobi in the contest, with the host city to be announced in September.
Rome's candidacy places Italy at the centre of a global sporting decision that carries significant weight for the country's athletics infrastructure and its broader ambitions as a host of major events. The Italian capital has been positioning itself for a return to the international sporting calendar, and a successful bid would bring the world's premier track and field competition to the Stadio Olimpico.
The Guardian's report noted that London's agreement with West Ham was a key step in making its bid viable, allowing the city to offer a major stadium without the cost of a new build. That pragmatic approach contrasts with the scale of the undertaking facing Rome, where existing venues would require upgrades to meet World Athletics standards.
The September decision will be made by World Athletics, the sport's governing body, which has overseen a period of significant change in the championships' format and calendar. The 2029 edition would follow the 2027 event, whose host was selected under the organisation's current leadership.
For Rome, the bid represents an opportunity to reassert its place in international sport after a period in which Italy's major event hosting has centred on the upcoming Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. A successful athletics bid would give the capital its own flagship event and spread the sporting calendar across the country's two principal cities.
The Guardian's coverage framed the race as a competitive one, with London's stadium agreement giving it a clear venue plan, while Munich and Nairobi offer alternative models — Munich with its Olympic heritage and Nairobi with the appeal of a first African host for the championships. Rome's case rests on the historic appeal of the Stadio Olimpico, which last hosted the World Championships in 1987.
Foreign coverage of the bid has noted the political dimension of hosting decisions in athletics, with World Athletics increasingly attentive to legacy and sustainability concerns. Rome's proposal will need to address those priorities alongside the practical questions of infrastructure and funding, which have historically complicated Italian bids for major events.
The outcome matters beyond athletics. A Rome victory would add to Italy's sporting calendar a decade that already includes the Winter Games, reinforcing the country's position as a regular host of global competitions. The September announcement will therefore be watched closely not only by the sport's followers but by those tracking Italy's broader ambitions on the world stage.