Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ROME361
2006-02-07 16:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS -- USG SITUATION

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS E F T O SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 000361 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR S/S-O, S/CT, EUR, DS, AND CA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2011
TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER ITALY NATIONAL ELECTIONS ITALIAN POLITICS
SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS -- USG SITUATION
REPORT (SITREP) #1, 02/07/2006

Classified By: Deborah Graze, Consul General Milan for reasons 1.4 (d)

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 000361

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR S/S-O, S/CT, EUR, DS, AND CA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2011
TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER ITALY NATIONAL ELECTIONS ITALIAN POLITICS
SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS -- USG SITUATION
REPORT (SITREP) #1, 02/07/2006

Classified By: Deborah Graze, Consul General Milan for reasons 1.4 (d)


1. (SBU/NF) The following cable provides information on
security, public diplomacy, and consular activities in Turin,
Italy, for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games as of 02/07/2006.



2. (SBU/NF) USG interagency Joint Operations Center (JOC)
numbers (24/7) are: 39-011-55-99-793/794/564 (tel);
011-39-011-55-99-590 (fax). USG interagency Threat
Integration Center (TIC) numbers (24/7) are:
39-011-55-99-790/791 (tel); 011-39-011-55-99-590 (fax).


SECURITY ISSUES
--------------


3. (U) Terrorist Activity: No activity has been identified.


4. (SBU) Threats: The US Government is unaware of any
specific, credible threat information directed against the
Olympic Games in Turin, nor in primary Olympics mountain
sites in Bardonecchia, nor Sestriere. USG interagency
Olympics Security Coordination (OSC) Office is liaising with
Italian counterparts to monitor and resolve concerns
regarding potential terrorist strikes linked to the Games and
Italian General Elections. Open source reporting and Italian
authorities are focused on the security environment before
general elections in April and consider next few months to
require high alert also for the security operations related
to the Olympics. OSC is actively coordinating security
efforts with Italian authorities regarding the reported theft
of a vehicle containing a Turin Olympic Committee access pass.


5. (U) Demonstrations/Protests: Local protesters have
targeted Olympic-related activities and personnel, to include
the Olympic Torch Run and US Olympic corporate sponsors;
additional protests against Olympic activities are expected.
OSC and the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) remain
in daily contact with Italian interlocutors regarding all

known and developed threats against US corporate sponsors.
Anti-globalization, left-wing and anarchist activists have
planned a "netstrike" e-mail attack/protest for 02/10/2006
against Coca-Cola in response to the company's sponsorship of
the Games. OSC facilitated a meeting on 02/07/2006 between
Coca-Cola and local Italian authorities to consult on host
government preparations.


SECURITY OPERATIONS
--------------


6. (U) The USG interagency OSC JOC and TIC initiated 24/7
operations on 02/06/2006, at 0700 hours local time. The
shift schedules are 0700-1500, 1500-2300, and 2300-0700. USG
deployed security assets are currently 143 personnel: 73 DSS,
43 FBI, plus EUCOM/ESAT, NCTC, NGA, and other Government
agencies.


7. (SBU) The Transportation Security Agency (TSA) continues
to work with Turin Airport authorities in preparation for the
visit of First Lady Laura Bush (FLOTUS). TSA is also working
with U.S. corporations for charter flights. On 02/06/2006,
TSA reported that its inspectors are on site at Milan

SIPDIS
Malpensa Airport and will review Continental Airlines flight
operations on 02/07/2006. All TSA personnel are in place in
Turin and Milan. In addition, Supervisory Federal Air
Marshals (FAM) are in Milan to provide assistance; the first
FAM flights will begin on 02/08/2006.


VIPs
--------------

8. (SBU) There has been widespread media coverage that
FLOTUS, accompanied by daughter Barbara, will lead the
Presidential delegation to the Opening Ceremonies. Prior to
arriving in Turin, FLOTUS is scheduled to have an audience
with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on 02/09/2006, and
other appointments, including with GOI, in Rome. USSS
advance and OSC field liaison officers are working this visit
in Turin. There are no known threats specifically targeting
the FLOTUS visit. See below for open-source comments from
protestors regarding visit.


PENDING MATTERS
--------------


9. (U) There are no unresolved issues at this time.


PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
--------------


10. (U) As the Opening Ceremonies approach, Italian media
are extensively reporting on security measures for the
Olympics. Leading stories focus on domestic far-left,
anti-globalization, and anarchist groups' intended protests
against the Games. On 02/07/2006, anti-globalization groups
reportedly will announce their initiatives to boycott events
surrounding the Olympic Torch Run. Corriere della Sera,
Italy's most widely-circulated centrist newspaper, reported
on protests intending to "boycott" VIPs, including FLOTUS.
The Rifondazione Communista head and leaders of the
anti-high-speed-train ("No TAV") movement claimed that
protests will occur every day leading up to the Opening
Ceremonies; these may include interfering with the Torch Run
and defacing the logos of Olympic sponsors. In contrast, an
editorial by the deputy managing editor of Corriere della
Sera strongly criticized the protests against the Olympics.



11. (U) Various media outlets report that Italy's Interior
Minister convened a meeting on 02/06/2006 in Rome to discuss
Olympic security issues; separate reporting indicates that he
will hold another session on 02/09/2006 with Intelligence and
law enforcement representatives. La Stampa quoted the
Interior Minister as saying that "mayors no longer control
the situation, and anarchists and anti-globalization groups
are leading protests." The same story also mentions a
heightened awareness of international terrorist activity on
the part of authorities so that Turin does not become
"another Munich." In the absence of specific threats, the
article notes that general alert remains high. The leader of
the Rifondazione Communista leader Bertinotti has stated that
he cannot help Turin mayor Chiamparino avoid further
protests. This story gets widespread coverage in the context
of domestic politics and the coming elections; Chiamparino is
a former communist who is now prominently centrist.


12. (U) Operations -- The U.S. Turin Public Affairs Office
may be reached on a 24-hour basis at 39-011-55-99-368.


CONSULAR AFFAIRS
--------------

13. (U) The Consular office for the duration of the Turin
Olympics is co-located with the Public Affairs office, in the
same building as the Olympics Security Coordination and
Olympics Coordination Offices in Turin. The Consular section
is staffed by ten employees: three consular officers, three
senior FSNs and four temporary consular clerks. This
consular office provides Emergency services for US citizens,
and has established an extensive network of contacts with
hotels, hospitals, and local law enforcement officials.
Consular contact information: Telephone number 011-5599-330.
Fax: 011-5599-551. Additional information may be found at
http://milan.usconsulate.gov. As of this filing, the Turin
Consular Office has not received any requests for service.


SPOGLI