n – hen. - 107. DOG-Kongress

6
Grußwort des Oberbürgermeisters von Leipzig
Welcome Address from the Lord Mayor of Leipzig
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear ophthalmologists,
It is my great pleasure to cordially welcome you to Leipzig for
the 107th 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 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
600th 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 200th 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, welcome to the 107th 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!
Sincerely yours,
Burkhard Jung
Lord Mayor of the City of Leipzig