The New Zealand Women’s Football Team is joining a global call for greater racial equality in sport, taking a knee moments before tonight’s opening Olympic match against Australia.
New Zealand Olympic Committee Chef de Mission Rob Waddell said he fully backs 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.
“We fully support athlete advocacy where the New Zealand Team values are upheld.
The New Zealand team is made up of 211 athletes from a diverse range of ethnicities and cultural backgrounds, including 33 of Maori descent.
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