Coe backs London bid as Nairobi, Rome and Munich seek 2029 Worlds

Four cities are competing to host the 2029 World Championships, with Sebastian Coe rejecting concerns that sparse early crowds at the European Championships in Birmingham could damage London’s bid. Nairobi, Rome, Munich and London are under consideration, with the host decision expected next month.

Attendance in Birmingham has drawn criticism during the opening days, particularly over ticket prices and the event’s marketing. Organisers have said the final four days are close to full, while European Athletics has pointed to television audiences of more than two million on the BBC, equivalent to a 20% market share.

Coe, the World Athletics president, said London could point to its record at major athletics events. The capital hosted the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2017 World Championships, while a Diamond League meeting there was sold out five months before it took place. He also recalled the strong interest around the opening night of the 2017 championships, when Mo Farah was the main attraction.

His defence of London did not dismiss the difficulties Birmingham organisers have faced. Coe identified the Monday morning start, the timing in the middle of summer, hot conditions and limited cover in the stadium as possible reasons for the quieter crowds. Ticketing and promotion have also been part of the discussion surrounding attendance.

Coe will not take part in the vote on the 2029 host. An evaluation panel will examine the four bids across a range of criteria before recommending a preferred option to the World Athletics Council.

The council will then review the panel’s work and question the bids before making the final decision. The process is designed to place the assessment ahead of a public contest between the candidate cities, while leaving the council with responsibility for selecting the host.