Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ROME377
2006-02-08 15:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS--USG SITUATION REPORT

Tags:  ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER OLYMPICS 
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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 04 ROME 000377 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SENSITIVE

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2007
TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER OLYMPICS
SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS--USG SITUATION REPORT
(SITREP) #2, 02/08/2006

REF: ROME 361

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

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 000377

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SENSITIVE

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2007
TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER OLYMPICS
SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS--USG SITUATION REPORT
(SITREP) #2, 02/08/2006

REF: ROME 361

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


1. (SBU) The following cable provides information on
security, public diplomacy, and consular activities in Turin,
Italy, for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games as of 02/08/2006.


2. (SBU) The interagency Olympic Security Coordination (OSC)
Office can be contacted on a 24-hour basis at the following
numbers:

USG Joint Operations Center (JOC) 39-011-55-99-793/794/564
(tel); 011-39-011-55-99-590 (fax)

USG Threat Integration Center (TIC) 39-011-55-99-790/791
(tel); 011-39-011-55-99-590 (fax).


3. (SBU) Attached is a key for USG acronyms used within this
cable: Olympic Security Coordination Office (OSC); Joint
Operations Center (JOC); USG Threat Integration Center (TIC);
Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC); First Lady of the
United States (FLOTUS); Public Affairs/Public Diplomacy
(PA/PD); Consular Affairs (CA).

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


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


5. (SBU) Threats: The US Government is unaware of any
specific, credible threat information directed against the
Olympic Games in Turin, or in the primary Olympics mountain
sites of Bardonecchia and Sestriere. In addition, there is
currently no information available to suggest a threat to
FLOTUS and the Presidential Delegation scheduled to arrive on
02/10/2006.


6. (U) Demonstrations/Protests: Local protesters continue to
target Olympic-related activities and personnel, to include
the Olympic Torch Run and US Olympic corporate sponsors;
additional protests against Olympic activities are expected.
According to the "Boycott Coca-Cola Network" (REBOC) website,
the Communist Renewal Party is sponsoring two new protests
against the Torch Run on 02/09/2006 at 1500 hours at Piazza

Sabotino and on 02/10/2006 at 1400 hours at the University
Club at Via San Ottavio. OSAC has informed corporate
security representatives of Coca-Cola, General Electric, and
Kodak of these events. The OSC will coordinate with the
Italian Polizia di Stato (National Police) and DIGOS (General
Investigations and Special Operations) for additional data
regarding the protests. OSC and OSAC remain in daily contact
with Italian interlocutors regarding all known and developed
threats against US corporate sponsors, to include the
"netstrike" e-mail attack/protest against Coca Cola planned
for 02/10/2006.


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


7. (SBU/NF) USG security activities described in REFTEL
(ongoing liaison with host government interagency law
enforcement, military, and intelligence authorities, with
Olympics organizing committee security officials, with U.S.
corporate security and FLOTUS USSS lead responsible
officials) continue.


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


8. (SBU) FLOTUS and the Presidential Delegation are scheduled
to arrive in Turin on 02/10/2006 for the Opening Ceremonies
and depart on 02/12/2006. Daughter Barbara Bush will remain
in Turin on private travel until 2/15/2006. News media
continues to focus on the FLOTUS visit and a partially
accurate itinerary is now in the public realm. Inaccurate
information regarding the FLOTUS security detail has also
appeared in print.

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


9. (U) OSC continues to liaise with Italian counterparts to
monitor and resolve concerns regarding potential threats to
the Games and the period immediately prior to the Italian
General Elections. These sentiments are reflected in current
and past media reports, as well as in exchanges with Italian
authorities who have been on a heightened state of alert for
the past several months.


10. (U) As noted in REFTEL, OSC continues to coordinate
efforts with Italian authorities to investigate the reported
theft of a vehicle containing a Turin Olympic Committee
access pass.


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


11. (U) The U.S. Public Affairs Office in Turin is currently
staffed by four Americans and seven Italian employees. They
may be reached at 39-011-55-99-368. The U.S. office at the
TorinoPiemonte (non-Olympics news focus) Media Center has
opened and is currently staffed with two Italian employees;
an American employee will arrive on 02/09/2006.


12. (U) It is noteworthy that media coverage has focused more
closely on the FLOTUS visit, protest activity, and the
statements of public officials rather than on the Olympic
Games themselves. Both the media and Italian officials
continue to note the absence of any specific threats against
the Games. The following summary contains highlights from
local media:


13. (U) FLOTUS: Quotidiano Nazionale (QN) reported the date
of arrival of FLOTUS in Italy, including an outline of her
schedule for her Friday arrival in Turin. QN also noted that
Saturday (02/11/2006) could prove to be the most difficult
day of her schedule in terms of security. Il Messaggero
carried an article titled "The Torch and the First Lady,s
Visit Targeted by the Antagonists,s Movements." The US
Public Affairs Office in Turin has contacted both print and
wire media outlets to discourage any further publication of
specific information regarding the FLOTUS itinerary.


14. (U) Security Concerns: Il Messaggero carried information
on upcoming protests planned by Social Centers (anarchist
groups),which intend to conduct disruptive actions
throughout the Games. These include a protest in Piazza
Sabotino scheduled for 02/09/2006, a sit-in and a protest on
02/10/2006 to mark the passage of the Olympic Torch and the
Opening Ceremonies, and unspecified actions planned to
coincide with the movements of FLOTUS on 02/11/2006. Vatican
Radio and La Stampa covered Interior Minister Pisanu,s
statements that the actions of anti-high-speed-train (No TAV)
and anti-globalization groups could pose a greater threat to
the Games than the activities of Islamic terrorists.
Minister of Interior Pisanu noted that while there are
currently no specific terrorist threats against the Olympics,
the possibility of an attack occurring could not be
discounted, underscoring that Italian security forces
remained on alert.


15. (U) Public Statements: La Stampa carried the article
"Ciampi: The Olympics - We Cannot Fail," covering the
President's televised message exhorting the people of Italy
to help ensure the success of the Games. Ciampi's message
implicitly referred to news of protests and encouraged
instead positive activity by Italians in support of the
Olympics. Il Riformista printed statements by Mercedes
Bresso, Governor of the Piedmont region, in which she praised
Ciampi,s call for calm and a successful Games, while at the
same time criticizing the government and leading opposition
candidate Prodi,s handling of the issue of the high-speed
train (TAV). (Bresso is a member of the center-left
opposition; most public statements by politicians are in the
context of April general elections. Ciampi is considered
above politics, is popular, and his remarks are a call for
unity for the significant national event of the Olympics.)


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


16. (U) CA hosted a representational event for Turin hospital
directors in order to distribute consular information cards
and brochures. As of this filing, the Turin Consular Office
has not received any requests for American citizen service.


17. (U) The Consular Office may be contacted at the following
numbers: 011-5599-330 (tel.); 011-5599-551 (fax). Additional
information may be found at http://milan.usconsulate.gov.
SPOGLI