Welcome Address from the Lord Mayor of Leipzig

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear ophthalmologists,

It is my great pleasure to cordially invite you to Leipzig for the 107^th Annual Congress of the German Society of Ophthalmology. I eagerly anticipate and am a little proud that your renowned congress is returning to us after more than a decade.

Some of you may remember the 1991 DOG congress in Leipzig: At that time you witnessed a city on the move which made world history with its peaceful revolution in October 1989 and which
stood at the very beginning of a very rocky road ahead, which would transform it back to its historical splendour as an ancient convention, trade, and university city: despite numerous painful wounds from years of socialist dictatorship, which had impacted Leipzig’s architecture and infrastructure greatly at the time. Similarly optimism and ambition could be felt among the citizens of Leipzig, an unconditional will to eagerly work towards departure and change.

Today I can promise that when you come to the new convention centre at the end of September for the 107^th DOG congress you will no longer recognize our city. The difficult path mentioned above which Leipzig took after the fall of the Wall has been completed to a large extent. Apart from that you will be our guest at the Pleiße in a year of special anniversaries. It has been exactly 20 years since the fall of 1989 when courageous people succeeded with candles and prayers and the German reunification began in the Nikolai Church. The Alma mater Lipsiensis, the second oldest German university and also the home of the first German ophthalmologic teaching hospital celebrates its 600^th anniversary. On this occasion, a new campus building designed by world famous architect Erick van Egeraat is being built, and there is an extraordinary table of events in the heart of our city. The music world is celebrating the 200^th birthday of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and is commemorating him with manifold events throughout the entire year.

Without a doubt you can expect many things new and remarkable in Leipzig. So, come to the 107^th DOG congress, let yourself be surprised and amazed by our vibrant city life, the unique and lovingly reconstructed architecture, the cultural offerings of museums, opera, the "Gewandhaus" concert hall, theatre, and cabaret, as well as the hospitable people of Leipzig, who make this city so distinctive.

I wish you plenty of success for your congress with the important theme of "Lifelong good vision – because ophthalmologists research, teach, help, and heal" as well as various gains for all of the participants’ future work.

Take with you many pleasant impressions and friendly memories from our city.
Leipzig is looking forward to you!

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