From Radio Sweden:

Sweden’s plans to be the world’s first country to open an embassy in the virtual reality of Second Life have been dashed, after the small island nation of the Maldives, said it had opened its own embassy in the computer-generated world.

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Sweden was hoping to be the first country to have a presence in Second Life, when it opens its embassy there on May 30, moved up from the original starting date of June 1.

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The internet-savy Swedes have however been pipped at the post by the tiny island nation. Officials for the Maldives say they did not know Sweden had planned to open an embassy in Second Life.

SR International - Radio Sweden

The point is what the Maldives done? Did someone at a government ministry sign up for a Second Life account, buy an off-the-shelf house, and call it an embassy? Anybody can do that.

Here’s one report:

The embassy will be located in the “Diplomatic Quarter” of Second Life, and visitors will be able to talk to a virtual diplomat about visas, trade and other issues.

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An official from the Maldives mission in Geneva will actually create their own ‘avatar’, or computer-generated character, to deal with visitors ‘face-to-face’.

Maldives opens first virtual embassy on Second Life.

The Swedish Institute project is very ambitious, and will include exhibits about Sweden and the ability to listen to daily newscasts from Radio Sweden.

Foreign Minister Carl Bildt will be donning his avatar to cut the virtual ribbon inside Second Life on May 30, moved up from the original June 1 date.