News24
21 Jul 2021, 18:43 GMT+10
Players from the United States and Team GB were among those to take a knee ahead of Wednesday's opening matches in the women's Olympic football tournament to highlight racial injustice.
All 22 players took part in the gesture prior to kick-off between four-time Olympic champions the US and Sweden in Tokyo, an hour after Team GB and Chile did likewise in Sapporo.
The International Olympic Committee has relaxed some of the rules for protests at the Games, softening a long-standing ban on political protests at the global sporting event.
Athletes will now be allowed to take a knee before play begins to highlight racial injustice, speak to the media and post online about their views, or wear clothing with a protest slogan at a press conference.
But political statements during events, victory ceremonies and at the Olympic Village are still off the cards, the IOC said.
The New Zealand Olympic Committee's chef de mission said the team would also take a knee before their game later on Wednesday in Tokyo against Australia.
Britain won the Group E opener in Sapporo 2-0, with Manchester City striker Ellen White scoring twice and having a goal disallowed by VAR for offside.
Hege Riise's side are bidding to become the first British team to win an Olympic football medal.
Get a daily dose of Auckland Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Auckland Sun.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: Elon Musk's entry into the political arena is drawing pushback from top U.S. officials and investors, as his decision...
CULVER CITY, California: TikTok is preparing to roll out a separate version of its app for U.S. users, as efforts to secure a sale...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump claimed he was unaware that the term shylock is regarded as antisemitic when he used it in...
PARIS, France: A strike by French air traffic controllers demanding improved working conditions caused significant disruptions during...
OMAHA, Nebraska: With Congress considering cuts totaling around US$1 trillion to Medicaid over the next decade, concerns are rising...
ROME, Italy: Quick thinking by emergency responders helped prevent greater devastation after a gas station explosion in southeastern...
London [UK], July 8 (ANI): After smashing records with his swashbuckling double hundred and a scintillating ton that ensured India's...
Modinagar (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 8 (ANI): Raksha Khadse, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, undertook a significant...
EDIRNE, Trkiye, July 8 (Xinhua) -- With wrestlers taking to the field to the beat of drums echoing through Trkiye's northwestern border...
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 8 (ANI): On a recent episode of The Great Indian Kapil Sharma Show, cricketer Abhishek Sharma opened...
Wellington [New Zealand], July 8 (ANI): Right-arm seamer Matthew Fisher received a maiden call-up from the national team asthe squad...
(Photo credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images) The New York Knicks hired two-time NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown as their new head coach...