Andreas Mehdorn, the former CEO of Deutsche Bahn, has voiced strong criticism regarding Berlin’s plans to host both the Olympic Games and a World Expo. Speaking to the “Tagesspiegel”, the 83-year-old suggested that people should fundamentally question whether the Olympics-even in reduced form-are still relevant today or if the world’s concerns have shifted entirely to other areas.
When asked for general advice for modern project planners, Mehdorn advocated for a fundamental change in approach. He stressed that the success of large-scale projects hinges on their initial stages. To improve, he advised greater public communication, mandatory town hall meetings, and the serious consideration of allocating significant buffers in both time and budget, ensuring all information is reported transparently.
Mehdorn also approached Berlin’s bid for a World Expo in 2035 with skepticism. Recalling the lackluster performance of the Hannover Expo in 2000, he stated that the city should learn from that past failure, predicting that Berlin will not be any different. He concluded by pointing out that in the era of Artificial Intelligence, virtually every product available on Earth can be viewed online, making the need for an elaborate physical exhibition or trade show obsolete.