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Japanese PM Abe to attend closing ceremony of Rio Olympics

TOKYO (AP) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will attend the closing ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Friday that Abe will visit Brazil from Aug. 21 and will also meet with Japanese athletes taking part in the Rio Games.

Tokyo is host of the next Summer Olympics and Paralympics in 2020.

Suga said Abe's attendance will strengthen ties between Japan and Brazil and help the 2020 Games get off to a successful start.

Newly-elected Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike will also attend the closing ceremony and accept the Olympic flag as the head of the next host city.