Building transnational solidarities: an object biography of the Olympic Poverty Torch

This chapter explores the transnational journey of the Olympic Poverty Torch, also known as the anti-Olympic torch. Drawing on the tools of object biography, it follows to torch’s journey across numerous Olympic host locations, from inception among anti-Olympic groups in Vancouver in 2010 to the present day in Paris. In doing so, it provides an important lens into mega-event led development and the myriad problems associated with it. Drawing on interviews from activists involved in this torch “relay” and secondary data, it considers this torch as an important means of building transnational solidarities in what could otherwise be regarded as NIMBY protest. It explores the ways in which the ritual of passing the torch serves not only as an important opportunities to share experiences and strategic knowledge, but also as an emotional conduit for feelings of solidarity. It also provides insights for broader transnational organising, particularly in contexts where protest is highly criminalised. In doing so, it serves to illustrate the deeper history of collaboration among what some have described since an anti-Olympic summit in Tokyo in 2019 as a newly transnational movement.