Dame Valerie Adams has been named New Zealand Team Closing Ceremony flagbearer (Te Pou Hapai) for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The 36-year-old is a two-time Olympic champion having won gold at Beijing 2008 and London 2012. She won silver at Rio 2016.

Competing in her fifth Olympic Games at Tokyo 2020, Adams threw 19.62m to win the bronze medal.

"It's an incredible honour to be named as the New Zealand flag bearer for tonight's Closing Ceremony," said Adams.

"To represent our team and Aotearoa tonight as we close these Games together means a lot to me and my family. One day when my children Kimoana and Kepaleli understand what their Mum does I hope they will be just as proud of this significant moment too.

"It's fair to say Tokyo 2020 will go down in history, the success of these Games is an absolute testament to the people of Japan who enabled us to safely come together and inspire and unite the world. Arigatō gozaimasu."