Benin became on Tuesday the first foreign delegation to raise flag in Beijing Olympic Village.

The Olympic Village has officially opened its gates Sunday with Chinese delegation entering as the first guests of the 66-hectare-surface complex.

Anthems of the International Olympic Committee and of the Republic of Benin have been heard successively under a light rain.

Chen Zhili, mayor of the Village, made a welcome speech in the honor of the first foreign delegation and presented a souvenir to its chef de mission, Charles Nobre.

Little country located in Western Africa, Benin sends a delegation of 15 members to the Beijing Olympics. Its five athletes will participate in athletics, swimming and taekwondo.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2008)