Secretary of State John Kerry and five other U.S. dignitaries will attend Friday's opening ceremony at the Summer Olympics in Brazil, the White House announced Tuesday.

"The delegation will attend athletic events, meet with U.S. athletes and attend the opening ceremony," the White House stated.

Others joining Kerry in Brazil are U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Liliana Ayalde; Mari Carmen Aponte, acting assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs; Liz Allen, deputy assistant to the president and White House deputy communications director; Ellie Schafer, special assistant to the president and director of the White House Visitors Office; and nine-time Olympic gold medalist Mark Spitz.