The Football Ferns will take a knee before their opening match of the Tokyo Olympics against Australia on Wednesday, joining a global call for greater racial equality in sport.
Rob Waddell, Chef de Mission of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, said he fully backed the players as they become some of the first Olympic athletes to advocate for social justice under new IOC guidelines.
We are delighted that the IOC has made room for athletes to use their voices for good at the Olympic Games and are proud of our athletes for making a global stand for greater racial equality, Waddell said.
Football Ferns Marissa Van Der Meer, Claudia Bunge, Anna Leat and Elizabeth Anton pictured before heading to Tokyo.
We fully support athlete advocacy where the New Zealand team values are upheld.
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The Football Ferns tournament opener against Australia at Tokyo Stadium will be their first match in almost 500 days and their best chance of a win.
The United States, the reigning world champions, who havent lost since early 2019, and Sweden are their other opponents in Group G.
The 211 strong New Zealand team at the Tokyo Olympics is made up of a diverse range of ethnicities and cultural backgrounds, including 33 of Mori descent.