New Zealand Women's soccer team has said they would be taking a knee before the opener match against Australia on Wednesday.

The gesture has been adopted as a way to show solidarity with the Blacks Lives Matter movement.

"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," Rob Waddell, New Zealand's Chef de Mission in Tokyo, said in a statement.

The International Olympic Committee has relaxed its Rule 50, which had previously forbidden athletes from any protests but now allows them to make gestures on the field, provided they do so without disruption and with respect for fellow competitors.

"We fully support athlete advocacy where the New Zealand Team values are upheld."

Britain's women's soccer coach Hege Riise also said last week that her players will take the knee before matches at the Tokyo Games to raise awareness about racism and all forms of discrimination.