Nairobi: Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge has called on African nations to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI), innovation, and technology to sustain the continent’s dominance in sport and prepare for a rapidly changing global environment. Speaking during the Kenya Software and AI Summit 2025 at Moi University Annex Campus, Kipchoge highlighted the shift from fixed systems to one driven by adaptation, innovation, and data.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kipchoge emphasized the need for sports to evolve alongside technological advancements to remain relevant and resilient. He described the fusion of AI, data, and innovation as pivotal in redefining how athletes train, recover, and perform. While acknowledging the impact of climate change on global sporting events, he cited experiences from the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and Paris 2024 Games, where rising temperatures affected athletes’ performance.
Kipchoge urged Kenya and the wider African continent to integrate digital solutions into sports, calling it essential for competitiveness and sustainability. He pointed out that by 2030, 42% of the world’s youth will reside in Africa, with over 230 million digital jobs expected to emerge across the continent in the next decade. By connecting Africa’s athletic strength with digital innovation, Kipchoge envisions building a sustainable and inclusive industry.
Addressing the youth, the two-time Olympic champion encouraged them to master digital skills and uphold ethics, emphasizing that technology should empower rather than exploit. He urged policymakers to incorporate digital and climate literacy into education and invest in tech-enabled facilities to nurture future athletes and innovators.
Kipchoge also announced his upcoming seven-continent tour aimed at spreading a global message of connection, adaptation, and unity through sport, asserting that Africa is setting the pace as the world changes.
