Some of Australia's best known athletes are joining a campaign against homophobia in sport.

They're doing so by wearing rainbow-themed laces at matches this weekend and promoting the initiative on social media with the hashtags "RainbowLaces and #Knotme.

Johnathan Thurston gets behind global 'homophobia free sport' campaign. <a href="https://t.co/Bhv0lVTIWi">https://t.co/Bhv0lVTIWi</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ql57cMMG1D">pic.twitter.com/Ql57cMMG1D</a> —@SBS

All set with my rainbow laces for the Rainbow Round this weekend. Saying no to homophobia in sport. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/knotme?src=hash">#knotme</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bruvchi?src=hash">#bruvchi</a> <a href="https://t.co/wZL6iZUxtm">pic.twitter.com/wZL6iZUxtm</a> —@pocockdavid

Tomorrow we take on <a href="https://twitter.com/westindies">@westindies</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WT20?src=hash">#WT20</a> final. <a href="https://twitter.com/SouthernStars">@SouthernStars</a> going for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/4peat?src=hash">#4peat</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RainbowLaces?src=hash">#RainbowLaces</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/knotme?src=hash">#knotme</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SKINSAU">@SKINSAU</a> <a href="https://t.co/Fhy5tIRqQp">pic.twitter.com/Fhy5tIRqQp</a> —@AlexBlackwell2

'Homophobia? KNOT me.'<br><br>Sean Bolger is rallying behind the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RainbowLaces?src=hash">#RainbowLaces</a> campaign: <a href="https://t.co/VU3NICrDzK">https://t.co/VU3NICrDzK</a> <a href="https://t.co/oMYHJwoQ5w">pic.twitter.com/oMYHJwoQ5w</a> —@NBluesFC

Indigenous rugby league legend Johnathan Thurston is backing the Australia's first Rainbow Laces campaign to counter homophobia, which he says is still a significant problem in sports.

The Australian Football League is being urged to do more to encourage gay players to be open about their sexual orientation without fear of ridicule or discrimination.

Research has shown that 70 per cent of Australians believe that youth team sports aren't safe for gay and lesbian players.

Australian rugby star David Pocock is also taking part in the laces campaign. Last year, he complained to a referee about an alleged homophobic slur made by a rival player in a match.

Sean Bolger and other players of the Northern Blues football club were expected to don their rainbow laces when they face Port Melbourne in a soccer game on Saturday.