Some of Australia's most famous Indigenous athletes are being wooed to join the Yes campaign advocating for a constitutionally-enshrined Voice to Parliament.
The ABC can confirm the Yes campaign has been trying to secure AFL legend Adam Goodes, NBA basketballer Patty Mills and Olympic Games gold medallist Cathy Freeman as public advocates for the cause ahead of the referendum later this year.
The nature of their involvement will be determined in the months ahead.
Thomas Mayo, a Kaurareg and Kalkalgal Erubamle man and Referendum Working Group member, said the push for big-name endorsements had taken on extra urgency after the Liberal Party decided it would not support the Voice.
"The political games that [Opposition Leader] Peter Dutton has played with this and will continue to play, it's going to make it much harder," he said.
"And so there is a lot more urgency, there is a lot more need for people to come out and express their support to explain why they support it and what a unifying thing [it] can be because it is that much harder, and we have to work harder to overcome it."
The AFL and NRL are in the process of finalising their positions on the Voice and are consulting a range of stakeholders.
"We need all organisations, every Australian, to step up and proclaim that this is something that is important to our country," Mr Mayo said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday told Sky News he expected high-profile athletes would start backing a Yes vote in the Voice referendum.
Much of the discussion when it comes to celebrity endorsements has centred around the country's Indigenous sporting icons.
But former Socceroo and human rights campaigner Craig Foster said they can't be expected to do all the heavy lifting.
"Of course, some of the great legendary First Nations athletes will be coming out publicly, but you know what the reality is they shouldn't have to," he said.
Mr Foster said it was incumbent on non-Indigenous sports people to support Indigenous athletes in the months ahead.
"What I'm saying to non-Indigenous sports and athletes and former athletes is this: You sat in the change room with Adam Goodes, and you play together, you won things together, and now is the time for you to turn around and extend the hand back and say thank you, we understand that these are your basic rights we are with you."
Indigenous broadcaster Shelley Ware said she wasn't surprised the Yes campaign was looking to sporting stars for support.
"It feels like it's our biggest religion sometimes," she said.
"Sometimes we lift them a little too high on a pedestal. But you know, it's, it's just the way that Australia has been for a really long time and sports people do influence people."
Ms Ware said she supports the Voice and hopes sporting clubs across the country can help facilitate the debate so people can be better informed about the referendum.
"The problem we're seeing at the moment is people are too busy having a go at people instead of listening," she said.
