Chen Zhili, mayor of the Beijing Olympic Village, met with visiting President of Iceland Olafur Ragnar Grimsson on Thursday.

Chen, also vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, first congratulated Iceland's men's team on their advance into the semifinal of the Olympic handball tournament on Thursday.

She noted that Iceland is a small country in terms of population, and the participation of small countries like Iceland makes the Beijing Olympic Games a splendid one.

For his part, Grimsson said Beijing has done an excellent job in preparing the venues, sports facilities for the Games as well as the Olympic Village itself.

Grimsson, who arrived here on Thursday, said he had talked with Iceland's National Olympic Committee and was told that the athletes were satisfied with their life here.

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2008)