Iceland review - 2016, Page 20

18 ICELAND REVIEW
organic farming. Guðni and his family then
traveled to Dalvík in North Iceland to attend
the Great Fish Day festival, and on August 6
in Reykjavík, Guðni became the first Icelandic
president—and likely the world’s first head-of-
state—to address a Pride festival. On August
20, Guðni ran 21k at the Reykjavík Marathon,
raising money for Grensás, the rehabilitation
department of Landspítali National University
Hospital—becoming the first Icelandic presi-
dent to compete in the marathon.

THE BIGGEST STORY IN ICELAND SINCE THE LAST
ISSUE OF ICELAND REVIEW WENT TO PRINT IN
LATE JUNE IS OF COURSE THE NATIONAL
FOOT BALL TEAM MAKING IT TO THE QUARTER
FINALS AT THE 2016 UEFA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
(SEE PAGE 32). HERE WE SUMMARIZE A SELECTION OF
OTHER NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
The sixTh PresidenT of the Republic of
Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, was inaugu-
rated on August 1 in a ceremony at Alþingi, the
Icelandic parliament. In his inaugural address,
Guðni was thought to strike a new tone; one
of hope, tolerance, compromise and humility.
The president’s first official visit on August
4 was to sustainable community Sólheimar
in South Iceland, where he praised the res-
idents—about 100 people with and without
special needs—for their joint efforts towards
BY EYGLÓ SVALA ARNARSDÓTTIR.
Guðni and his wife Eliza Reid wave to the crowd from the balcony of the parliamentary building after the inaugural ceremony on August 1.
Eliza is wearing a historical national costume (skrautbúningur), made from the costumes of two former first ladies.
NEW
PRESIDENT,
NEW ERA
News Roundup
Guðni and his wife Eliza Reid
wave to the crowd from the balcony
of the parliamentary building after
the inaugural ceremony on August 1.
Eliza is wearing a historical national
costume (skrautbúningur),
made from the costumes of
two former first ladies.
PHOTO BY JÚLÍUS SIGURJÓNSSON.