TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 ROME 000511

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SENSITIVE

PASS TO TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (TSA) AND
GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO); DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR
S/ES-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) #15, 02/21/2006

REF: ROME 507

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.


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: the inter-agency Olympic Security Coordination Office
(OSC); the USG inter-agency Olympic Security Operations
Center OSOC, including the 24/7 Joint Operations Center (JOC)
and Threat Integration Center (TIC); the Overseas Security
Advisory Council (OSAC); the National Information Center for
the Winter Olympics (CNIO),which is a Government of Italy
(GOI) hosted multinational center; the Turin Olympics
Organizing Committee (TOROC); the International Olympics
Committee (IOC); the US Olympic Committee (USOC); the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Public
Affairs/Public Diplomacy (PA/PD); Consular Affairs (CA); and
the Italian Ministry of Interior (MOI).


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


4. (U) Olympic events occurred without incident on
02/20/2006.


5. (SBU) Our OSOC CNIO liaison reports the Italian MOI has
requested that international law enforcement representatives
assigned to CNIO continue to focus on the Closing Ceremonies
of the Winter Games. Although the MOI has no information to
indicate an increased threat to the event, it has asked CNIO
to pay particular attention due to the profile of the event.


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

Terrorist Activity/Threats:


6. (S/NF) There is no indication that terrorist groups intend
to target the Olympic Games. The Consulate General in Milan
has confirmed that a Tunisian national arrested on 02/18/2006
on illegal immigration charges remains in Italian custody; on
02/25/2006, the Milan courts will determine if the
individual's detention will be upheld. Italian authorities
remain alert to the potential for terrorist activity. See
IIR 5 398 6522 06 and TD-314/10053-06 for information on
possible extremist plots elsewhere in Italy.


7. (U) On 02/20/2006, the Independent Media Center
(Indymedia.org),which has posted numerous calls to action
against the Olympics, disseminated an article entitled "2006
Olympics Legalized plundering and devastation!". The text
claims that a "destructive attack" is the only means left for
activists who want social change. The posting ends by
exclaiming, "We will burn the future in Piazza Castello!"
(Piazza Castello is site of Olympics medals ceremonies.)
OSOC continues to work with Italian law enforcement to
identify and monitor activist events that could impact on the
safety and security of U.S. interests in the Olympic theater.

Demonstrations/Protests:


8. (U) According to Italian daily Corriere della Sera, the
Italian National Chief of Police released a memorandum
alerting local police chiefs to the possibility of violent
street demonstrations in response to the controversial
cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad. Law enforcement officers
were directed to increase surveillance measures and pay
special attention to demonstrations and Italian Government
facilities, diplomatic missions, and regional institutions
that may become targets of retaliation. These measures are
preventive in nature; dialogue between OSOC and Italian
security services has indicated that there are currently no
anti-Olympics or cartoon-related demonstrations planned by
the Muslim community in Turin or surrounding cities.

Incidents:


9. (SBU) On 02/20/2006, Italian law enforcement reported to
OSOC that three individuals (not/not American citizens) had
several items stolen from their hotel rooms, including USA
House credentials. OSOC passed this information to the USA
House security personnel. OSOC will verify that the stolen
passes are canceled, to prevent their future use.


10. (SBU) On 02/20/2006, OSOC received reports of two
suspicious incidents at the Bank of America hospitality
house. The first incident involved unidentified individuals
who were allegedly making a delivery to a church adjacent to
the hospitality house; however, the subjects did not unload
anything from their vehicles and subsequent investigation by
hospitality house security officials revealed that there were
no deliveries scheduled for that day. The second incident
involved repeated walk-bys of the hospitality house by an
unidentified individual who appeared to be Middle Eastern.
OSOC has passed the license plate information from the first
incident to DIGOS (Italian General Investigations and Special
Operations) for follow-up. OSOC has also coordinated with
Bank of America hospitality house security regarding future
high-profile events, as it is possible that members of the
White House Delegation to the Closing Ceremonies will visit
this site.


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


11. (SBU) Italian officials continue to focus on Olympic
security operations. In coming days, security efforts will
be concentrated on preparing for the Closing Ceremonies and
the end of the Olympic Games. OSOC is working in
coordination with Italian authorities, TOROC, and USOC to
ensure the security of U.S. sponsors, spectators, and
athletes as the Olympics draw to a close.


12. (SBU) As media attention on Olympic hospitality houses
has increased, OSOC has noted a steady increase in security
at these facilities. Media interest in the high profile
sponsor events at the hospitality houses has resulted in a
number of reported incidents involving photography of
buildings and personnel. Due to their public nature and high
profile, these facilities remain viable soft targets. OSOC
continues to work with Italian authorities to identify
security vulnerabilities at U.S. sponsored hospitality
houses.


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


13. (SBU) The White House Delegation to the Closing
Ceremonies, led by former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, is
scheduled to arrive in Turin on 02/24/2006. OSOC, USG
control officer, and PA are working with USOC, TOROC, and
Italian counterparts to ensure that officials are aware of
and facilitating the delegation,s schedule.


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


14. (SBU) OSOC continues to work with Italian counterparts on
the investigation of the theft of a TOROC vehicle pass and
credentials.


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


15. (U) Domestic politics continue to dominate Italian press,
overshadowing coverage of Olympic events. Most major dailies
and TV media highlight Italian medals winners and the
reconciled ice dancers' performance. Media focus, in
addition to highlighting the Pope's call for peaceful
dialogue and mutual respect between different religious
followers, remains attuned to the recent anti-Italian
demonstrations in Libya and the actions of former Reform
Minister Roberto Calderoli and his Northern League Party.
Italian dailies on 02/21/2006 reported that the Northern
League will remain in the Italian ruling coalition, with the
implication that additional immigration restrictions will be
considered in exchange.


16. (U) Olympics coverage continues to focus on the recent
doping scandal involving Austrian athletes, with emphasis
placed on the investigation of the contents of syringes
thrown out during an anti-doping raid on 02/18/2006. The
placement of the banned Austrian Olympic coach into a
psychiatric facility in Austria has likewise received media
play.


17. (U) On a positive note, major daily La Stampa carried a
feature on a donation made by Olympics sponsor McDonalds to
the library of a local children,s hospital.


18. (U) PA is drafting the U.S. Ambassador,s byline, which
will be submitted to Italian papers for publication. The
byline will highlight the Ambassador,s impressions of Turin
during the FLOTUS visit and his personal visit over the past
weekend. PA Olympics office is attending relevant press
briefings, handling media inquiries and planning media
coverage of the White House Delegation to the Closing
Ceremonies. USOC-based PA staff is supporting U.S. athlete
press conferences, facilitating interaction with Italian
media, to include translating and disseminating U.S. team
information. The Public Affairs Office in Turin may be
reached at 39-011-55-99-368.


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


19. (U) On 02/20/2006, the Consular Office in Turin received
eleven requests for emergency services. Two Amcits applied
for emergency passports and two U.S. passports were recovered
and returned to their holders. An Amcit,s driver,s license
and insurance card were recovered and turned in to the
Consular Office; staff contacted the Amcit,s relatives in
the U.S. to request a local phone number and left a message
at his hotel room in Turin.

20. (U) In the mountain venue of Oulx, two Amcits were issued
administrative sanctions for allegedly re-selling Olympic
event tickets without proper license. In Turin, two
additional Amcits--including one who had been previously
sanctioned--were issued administrative fines for the illegal
sale of Olympic tickets. Three of the four individuals
visited the Consular Office to request a list of
English-speaking attorneys in Turin. CA notes that a total
of 15 Amcits have received administrative sanctions related
to illegal ticket sales.


21. (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