Urban Catalyst
Major events as a catalyst for future-oriented urban development
Berlin
Uber Eats Music Hall
April 22, 2026
The Conference
A bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games is much more than a sports policy project – it touches on key issues of urban development, infrastructure, sustainability, and the international positioning of our metropolis. It first requires a plan for the city.
The concept sees major events as catalysts for long-term development. At its core lies the question of how investments, infrastructure, and urban spaces can be shaped so that they provide lasting benefits for the city and its society.
The aim is to develop perspectives for a future-oriented Berlin and to create the foundation for strategically planned, sustainably effective urban development.
In Focus
- Opportunities and risks of major events for Berlin's urban development
- International experiences and success factors of leading metropolises
- Exchange between politics, business, urban planning, and urban society
Program
01:00 p.m.
Welcome
Alex Hill
President and CEO AEG Europe
Markus Voigt
President of the VBKI
01:30 p.m.
Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Marie Barsacq
Former Deputy Minister for Sport in France (request pending)
01:50 p.m.
London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Prof. Ricky Burdett
Director LSECities, London School of Economics
02:20 p.m.
The Olympic legacy: what remains after the Games?
Prof. Dr. Holger Preuß
Professor of Sports Economics and Sports Sociology at the University of Mainz
02:40 p.m.
Coffee break
03:20 p.m.
Missed opportunities: Rio de Janeiro 2016
Prof. Marcos L. Rosa
Professor at Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
03:30 p.m.
The Olympic Spirit
Ronald Rauhe
Canoeist and two-time Olympic Champion
Heike Drechsler
Two-time Olympic Champion, keynote speaker, and health ambassador for BARMER
03:45 p.m.
Olympic and Paralympic Games Berlin+
Kaweh Niroomand
Olympic representative of the Berlin Senate
03:55 p.m.
Q&A with Kaweh Niroomand
04:00 p.m.
Welcome address
Kai Wegner
Governing Mayor of Berlin
04:20 p.m.
Discussion
Major Events in Berlin: Necessary or Dispensable?
– On the Impact on Urban Development and Society
Andrea Gebhard
President of the Federal Chamber of German Architects
Fabien Schmitz-Grethlein
Managing Director, Tempelhof Projekt
Georg Friedrichs
Chairman of the Board of GASAG (request pending)
05:20 p.m.
Summary / Outlook
Ute Weiland
Managing Director of the VBKI
Ole Hertel
Senior Vice President and Managing Director Anschutz
05:30 p.m.
Get-together
Moderation
Sandra Pabst
Planning status March 2026
Speaker
Tickets
Participation fee
VBKI members
€79.00
Guests
€99.00
Reduced participation fee
VBKI Juniors
€49.00
Students
€49.00
Please note that purchased tickets are non-refundable and cannot be cancelled. However, tickets may be transferred to another person.
Our Partners
Would you like to become a partner?
If you are interested or have any individual ideas, we look forward to hearing from you.
Johanna Sprenger
Business Development Manager
Social Engagement
+49 (0)176 859 398 20
johanna.sprenger@vbki.de
You can download our sponsorship concept here.
Contact
Verein Berliner Kaufleute und Industrieller e.V. (VBKI)
Fasanenstraße 85 | 10623 Berlin
030 7261 080 | info@vbki.de