Joint declaration: Berlin's business community backs Olympic bid

Leaders of the capital region commit to the Berlin+ bid concept | Kai Wegner: "Olympic Games top priority"

The capital region's business community is backing Berlin's bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In a "Joint Declaration" initiated by the VBKI CEOs for Berlin forum, around 50 top representatives of the Berlin and Brandenburg business community have declared their support for the bid concept by name.

The statement reads: "Berlin is facing a historic opportunity - perhaps the greatest of our generation. We support the 'Berlin+' bid with passion and conviction. It is much more than a sporting event: it is a city-wide commitment to a committed, sustainable and open future for our metropolis."

The top representatives were able to declare their approval of the "Joint Declaration" at a meeting of the VBKI CEOs for Berlin forum on November 13, 2025, during which the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, Berlin's Senator for Sports, Iris Spranger, and the Senate's Olympic Commissioner, Kaweh Niroomand, presented Berlin's bid concept.

In his welcoming address, the Governing Mayor emphasized the international appeal of the metropolis of Berlin. He said: "If Germany wants to bring the Olympic Games to Germany, it won't work without Berlin." Paris 2024 was a key reference for the bid, he explained. Paris had impressively demonstrated the impetus that investments in urban redevelopment, sustainability and housing can trigger; it is precisely this impetus that is also needed in Berlin and the new federal states, said the Governing Mayor and spoke of a "huge opportunity for a new investment program". Paris 2024 also demonstrated how positively the Games can affect the social climate. The cohesion in the French capital was "unique and is still going strong today". In conclusion, he made it clear that the Olympic and Paralympic Games were the Senate's top priority - "nothing will change".

The supporters of the "Joint Declaration" also emphasize that the Olympic and Paralympic Games would trigger a huge modernization and innovation boost for the city and region - with investments in infrastructure, digitalization, mobility, climate protection and housing construction. The Berlin+ concept focuses on sustainability through the use of existing sports facilities, cooperation with regional partners and the creation of a climate-friendly Olympic Village. "The Olympics in Berlin not only means top sporting performance, but also identification, cohesion and global visibility. It is an opportunity to showcase a modern, diverse and courageous Germany," the declaration continues.

The circle of supporters includes Marc Appelhoff, CEO of home24 SE, Jörg Astalosch, CEO of IAV GmbH Ingenieurgesellschaft, Dr. Sven Deglow, Chairman of the Management Board of DKB Deutsche Kreditbank AG, Nina Englert, Head of the BMW Berlin branch, Henrik Falk, Chairman of the Management Board of Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) AöR, Dr. Stephan Fasshauer, Managing Director of Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung e. V. (DGUV), Martina Hacker, Managing Director of Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin (KPM), Uni.Prof. Oliver Günther, President of the University of Potsdam, Harald Christ, Chairman of Christ Capital GmbH, and numerous other representatives of well-known companies and institutions in the capital region.

"The games would be a strong symbol of openness, diversity and motivation - and a common goal that will motivate and unite our city for years to come," said Prof. Dr. Jörg Ritter, initiator and coordinator of the CEOs for Berlin forum.

The companies and institutions that have been organized in the VBKI CEOs for Berlin forum since 2019 together employ over 40% of Berlin's workforce and account for more than half of the economic power in the metropolitan region. The aim of the more than 1o0 personalities involved in the forum is to facilitate a solution-oriented exchange "at eye level" with political decision-makers.