Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ROME429
2006-02-13 12:17:00
SECRET//NOFORN
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.
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 06 ROME 000429 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SENSITIVE

PASS TO TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (TSA) AND
GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO); DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR S/S-O,
S/CT, EUR, DS, AND CA

E.O. 12958: DECL: X1
TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER OLYMPICS
SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS--USG SITUATION REPORT
(SITREP) #7, 02/13/2006

REF: ROME 407

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

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 06 ROME 000429

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SENSITIVE

PASS TO TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (TSA) AND
GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO); DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR S/S-O,
S/CT, EUR, DS, AND CA

E.O. 12958: DECL: X1
TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER OLYMPICS
SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS--USG SITUATION REPORT
(SITREP) #7, 02/13/2006

REF: ROME 407

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 02/09/2006.


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); National
Information Center for the Winter Olympics (CINO); Turin
Olympics Committee (TOROC);
International Olympics Committee (IOC); US Olympic Committee
(USOC); Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Public
Affairs/Public
Diplomacy (PA/PD); Consular Affairs (CA).


KEY EVENTS
--------------


4. (U) The first weekend of Olympic sporting events occurred
on 02/11/2006 and 02/12/2006 without disruption. Large
crowds continue to flock to downtown Turin to attend the
nightly medals ceremonies and concerts, spectators have
remained orderly, and security remains visible at all public
venues. While heightened awareness by security forces
continues, USOC personnel observe some problems with access
control and transportation at certain Olympics venues.
Italian authorities remain focused on opposition group events
planned for the weekend of 02/17/2006-02/19/2006.


SECURITY
--------------


5. (U) Terrorist Activity: No activity has been identified.
Italian officials remain alert for indications of terrorist
operations and additional OSOC personnel are available for
immediate recall to supplement existing 24/7 JOC and TIC
staff, should an Olympics-related incident occur.



6. (SBU) Threats: There is still no indication that terrorist
organizations intend to target the Olympic Games. Italian
law enforcement authorities remain on high alert for
suspicious activity throughout Italy, despite the lack of
specific, credible terrorist threat. The actions of groups
opposed to the Olympics and the TAV (high-speed train)
continue to be a concern, and Italian security forces are
working with their international counterparts to diminish the
potential for disruption of the Games in coming week.


7. (SBU) Demonstrations/Protests: USOC personnel and Italian
authorities remain concerned about and focused on
anti-globalization protestors, radical left-wing youth, and
anarchist groups who may attempt to capitalize on Olympics
media coverage to advertise their causes. Specifically,
Italian officials are focused on possibility of activists
converging in Turin between 02/17/2006-02/19/2006 to organize
demonstrations during the three-day symposium being held by
mountain village mayors and opponents of the TAV high-speed
rail line. Press reports large numbers of activists coming
to demonstrate in coming week. The OSOC liaison to the
Italian (multi-)National Center for the Winter Olympics
(CINO) reports that European Union authorities can not/not
confirm that multi-national activists are planning to arrive
in Turin in coming days. A schedule of the symposium events
has been published in the Italian Communist daily Il
Manifesto, as well as on the website www.NOTAV.it. OSOC
personnel will continue to monitor activist websites for
further information on the symposium and any planned protests
or disruptions. In addition, OSOC liaison with CINO
continues to monitor European law enforcement tracking of
possible travel to Turin area for purposes of disrupting
Olympics activities. The combination of logistical problems
in transportation from mountain venues and the
no-global/anarchist focus on the mountains for their
gatherings heightens USG and Italian/TOROC attention.


8. (S/NF) In conjunction with their concerns for the
potential for demonstrations linked to the planned symposium,
Italian security officials are worried that some radical
activist elements may seize the opportunity to target for
disruption critical infrastructure, such as electric lines,
telephone lines, and transportation. In response, police
have increased observation of people passing through rail
stations and airports. For additional information regarding
Italians fears about possible targeting of infrastructure,
please see TD-314/08114-06, dated 02/03/2006. OSOC continues
to work with Italian counterparts to obtain additional
information on any disruptive activity planned to coincide
with the Olympics and particularly during the
02/17/2006-02/19/2006 timeframe.


9. (U) According to TOROC, the No Olimpiadi, activist
group announced a series of peaceful demonstrations scheduled
to occur until the end of the Olympic Games. The group will
reportedly hand out No Olimpiadi, flyers near points of
interest in Turin. Law enforcement agencies are closely
monitoring the situation, and are prepared to prevent any
disorder that may interfere with the sporting competition
schedule.

10. (SBU) Incidents: In a follow-up to previously reported
information on an illegal attempt to gain access to Italian
law enforcement computer systems, the OSOC representative to
the Italian National Olympics Information Sharing Center
reported that authorities have identified the alleged hacker.
The individual is reportedly a contract TOROC employee who
was attempting to gain access to the TOROC Information
Management system, rather than the Law Enforcement Management
system as previously reported. The Italian Ministry of
Interior stated that the TOROC system is not classified and
does not contain law enforcement or sensitive security
information. However, Italian officials remain concerned and
will continue their investigation in order to ascertain the
individual,s intentions.


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


11. (SBU) USG security activities -- ongoing liaison with
host-government entities, Olympics security officials, US
corporate security and the USSS security detail --
continue.


12. (SBU) Italian authorities notified the TSA
representative located at the Turin Airport that they stopped
two suspicious individuals attempting to pick up a package
showing Arabic writing on the box. Subsequent action
revealed that the box was full of pamphlets; an Italian
investigation into the incident is ongoing and OSOC is
assisting Italian counterparts and TSA by running name checks
on the individuals.


13. (SBU) In an update to Italian law enforcement activity
described in previous sitrep, Italian authorities located the
No-TAV protester who was accredited to the mountain venue
site of the biathlon. The individual,s credentials were
revoked but later reissued at the order of the venue manager.
TOROC protested the reissue and requested that TOROC,s
Management Operations Center reverse the decision, though it
is unlikely that the subject,s credentials will be revoked
for a second time. OSOC personnel have noted that in the
absence of specific derogatory information, it is likely
difficult for TOROC to withdraw credentials once they have
been issued. OSOC will continue to work through liaison
channels at CINO in order to ascertain whether Italian
authorities have identified the individual in question as a
definite security risk and whether an investigation into his
activities is ongoing.


14. (SBU) Anecdotal evidence from OSOC personnel at various
Olympic venues indicates that there continues to be problems
with transportation and access control. OSOC elements in
mountain venues reported that a chaotic transportation system
left crowds of spectators waiting several hours to board
buses for return to Turin. Coupled with the fact that
activists will be holding a symposium near these venues in
upcoming days, OSOC believes that there is a high potential
for deliberate disruption of transportation routes into and
out of the mountains. OSOC will continue to work with
Italian counterparts to determine how they intend to improve
transportation control for the upcoming weekend.


15. (SBU) OSOC personnel attending the medals ceremony and
concert at Piazza Castello on 02/12/2006 indicated that there
continue to be residual problems with access control at that
site. According to the OSOC employees, a group of youths
arrived late to the concert and attempted to enter the venue
via the exit gate. Police stopped the group and eventually
moved them through the bystanding crowd to the proper entry
point. It should be noted that the entrances and exits to
the secure portion of Piazza Castello are not well marked and
there tends to be confusion among the large crowds of
spectators as to how they are to gain entry to the site.


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


16. (SBU) Daughter Barbara Bush remains in Turin on private
travel, with an expected departure date of 02/15/2006. On
02/13/2006, she will attend morning Olympic events in the
mountain venues and will return to Turin in the afternoon to
attend additional competitions. Thus far, there has been no
attempt by activist groups to target or hinder the movements
of Miss Bush and no press coverage regarding her visit has
been noted. The Public Affairs Office in Turin has requested
that the White House provide press guidance should we be
contacted by the media regarding her visit.


17. (SBU) A number of international VIPs remain in Turin.
Due to their presence, occasional street closures, security
checks and elevated police presence are expected to remain in
place throughout the duration of the Games.


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


18. (U) The theft of a TOROC vehicle pass remains unresolved.
OSOC remains concerned that a vehicle pass would allow
individuals of concern to approach large numbers of
spectators, despite Italian law enforcement claims that
additional screening sites would prevent this. Underscoring
this concern, Italian daily La Repubblica reported that on
02/12/2006, a tour bus at the Men,s Downhill Skiing venue
inadvertently deviated from normal security procedures and
discharged its passengers at the entrance to the venue.
(Spectators are normally dropped off at a distance from the
venue and then must walk to the entrance.) This caused
gridlock at the entrance and disrupted the efforts of
security forces as they attempted to move the vehicle. It is
unclear how the bus was able to approach the front of the
venue without being stopped by security forces. OSOC
continues to interact with Italian counterparts regarding
security concerns related to the missing pass.


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


19. (U) Italian media continue to focus heavily on Olympics
coverage, domestic politics and the general election
campaign, and the discovery of Avian Flu in Italy.
Indicating current Italian priorities, features on medals
ceremonies are taking precedence on the front page over
stories on domestic politics. Stories with security-related
themes continue to be popular and a number of newspapers are
now also commenting extensively on the activities and
performances of US athletes. The following is a summary
compiled from local media:


20. (U) Security Concerns: On 02/12/2006, Communist daily
Il Manifesto noted that the authors of the Olympics 2006
Black Book, will present a copy of the text to the
University of Turin library. The book focuses on the
relationship between military/industrial corporation
Finmeccanica and General Electrics (GE); it also states that
GE controls NBC, the US media network responsible for
Olympics coverage. OSOC and OSAC continue to work with US
corporate sponsors such as GE and NBC to counter any possible
protest attempts that may arise from the publicity
surrounding the Olympics Black Book.


21. (U) Influential daily La Stampa published a satiric look
at Olympic security procedures, noting that the Ministry of
Interior is now contending with questions as to why the level
of security appears to exceed the known threat to the Games.
Poking fun at a previously reported incident in which an
American with a bag of camera batteries sparked a security
response, the paper advises anyone wanting to attract the
attention of law enforcement authorities to park their
vehicle around Olympic sites with bags of batteries or Arabic
newspapers in the back seat.


22. (U) Left-leaning La Repubblica contained two articles on
the increased security in place for the Olympics, noting that
the necessity of queuing up at magnetometers has created long
lines and incovenience at checkpoints. It also highlighted
transportation problems in the mountain venues, including the
incident involving the bus noted in this sitrep. The second
article commented on the arrest of 12 individuals for minor
crimes, including the detention of a Palestinian who
illegally entered the country.


23. (U) Of possible concern for US and Italian security
officials, Il Giornale reported that a US website
(shopmetrospy.com) is now selling t-shirts featuring the
controversial Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.


24. (U) US Olympic Team: A number of daily papers contained
generally positive coverage of the performances of the US
Olympic Team. La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere della Sera,
La Repubblica and La Stampa all reported on the success of
halfpipe gold medalist Shaun White. La Repubblica commented
on men,s downhill skier Bode Miller,s fifth place finish,
while La Stampa covered Michelle Kwan,s withdrawal from the
skating competition.

25. (U) PA continues to work with USOC and others to schedule
interviews with US athletes for the Italian press. The
Public Affairs Office in Turin may be reached at
39-011-55-99-368.


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


26. (U) The Consular Office in Turin received two requests
for service from American citizens on 02/12/2006. The first
incident involved a member of a corporate sponsor group,
whose passport was stolen while he was riding on a tram.


27. (U) The other case was a welfare/whereabouts query from
the parent of an American citizen who failed to arrive at a
Turin youth hostel. Consular coordination with Consulate
General Milan and airport police at Bergamo airport revealed
that the individual in question had returned to his study
program in London. The parent was informed and the case was
closed.


28. (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