Nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis has urged African countries to host more major international sporting events, saying this would strengthen the continent's position in global sports and showcase its cultural diversity.

The American athletics legend made the remarks in an interview with Olympics.com in Dakar, Senegal, as the 2026 Youth Olympic Games gets underway, the first Olympic event to be staged on African soil.

“It's important for Africa to start hosting these events,” the 65-year-old said. “In order for Africa to continue to grow on a worldwide basis, they have to host these types of events. Each individual country [can] show their culture and ideas because they have so much to offer.”

Lewis said hosting international competitions would help African countries develop their sporting infrastructure, gain organisational experience and demonstrate their capacity to stage major events.

Shocked Americans

He cited the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the first to be held on the continent, as an example of Africa's growing presence in international sports.

“It was shocking to a lot of Americans,” he said of the number of African and African-descended players at the tournament. “I loved it.”

Acknowledging the logistical and infrastructural challenges involved in hosting major competitions, Lewis said African countries needed opportunities to develop their experience.

“That's how you learn,” he said. “Every other event in every other city has had 50, 100 years to do this, and I think it's important for them to get started.”

Experienced hosts

Africa has previously hosted several major international athletics competitions. Kenya staged the World Cross Country Championships in 2007, while Uganda hosted the event in 2017. Nairobi also hosted the World Athletics Under-18 Championships in 2017 and the Under-20 Championships in 2021.

Botswana's capital, Gaborone, hosted the 2026 World Athletics Relays, while Nairobi is scheduled to become the first African city to host the senior World Athletics Championships in 2029.

Lewis described the 2029 championships as an “incredible opportunity”, predicting strong performances in the sprint events.

“We're going to see a lot of fast sprint times,” he said, adding jokingly: “And I think if the United States doesn't drop the stick again, we'll see a fast relay time.”

Lewis won four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, long jump and 4x100m relay at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He went on to collect nine Olympic gold medals across four editions of the Games, becoming one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history.

Now a coach, Lewis remains involved in athletics and the Olympic movement.