TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 ROME 000558 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) #17, 02/23/2006 REF: ROME 543 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 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 took place without disruption on 02/22/2006. ¶5. (SBU) As the end of the 2006 Winter Olympics draws near, while remaining focused and in liaison with Italian authorities on security for the high-profile final weekend and Closing Ceremonies for the Olympics, OSOC has commenced coordination of security efforts for the upcoming Paralympics. The Paralympics will have a very reduced U.S. presence from the Olympics, and security, consular, PA support will be adjusted appropriately. The White House is expected to name a delegation to attend the Opening Ceremonies of the Paralympics on 03/10/2006. SECURITY -------------- Terrorist Activity/Threats: ¶6. (S/NF) There is no new information to suggest a specific, credible threat to the Olympic Games. Italian authorities remain alert for indications that terrorist organizations or activist groups intend to disrupt the final days of the Olympics. There has been no update on previously reported potential terrorist activity elsewhere in Italy. ¶7. (SBU) On 02/22/2006, USOC reported to OSOC that a member of the U.S. curling team had received threatening e-mails on her personal e-mail account. The athlete reportedly deleted the e-mails after reading them. OSOC will work with USOC to obtain additional information about the e-mail threats. Demonstrations/Protests: ¶8. (U) On 02/22/2006, environmental activist group "Lega Ambiente" conducted a peaceful protest near the (non-Olympics accredited) Piedmonte Media Center. The demonstration focused on environment issues and the "No TAV" agenda. No disruption of Olympic events was reported. ¶9. (U) On 02/25/2006, a "No TAV" festival will be held in the mountains near Turin. The event will commence with a conference discussing the "No TAV" movement and will end with various entertainment activities. The festival is not expected to disrupt Olympic operations in the mountain venues. ¶10. (U) On 02/21/2006, the Independent Media Center (Indymedia.org) posted two anti-Olympics flyers depicting a wounded Iraqi child and the logos of U.S. Olympic sponsors. According to the posting, activists are encouraging agitators to hand out anti-Olympics and anti-sponsor flyers. OSOC and Italian authorities continue to monitor the activist community and websites to identify organized calls for action against Olympic venues or sponsors. Incidents: ¶11. (SBU) On 02/22/2006, OSOC learned that Italian police had responded to a report of a suspicious suitcase inside a vehicle parked near the Bank of America hospitality house. Police cordoned off the area and Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel searched the suitcase. The suitcase was found to contain clothing. No other suspicious items were discovered. OSOC continues to work with the MOI to focus on implications of the number of suspicious package incidents reported near sponsor sites and public areas. ¶12. (SBU) OSOC field agents reported on 02/22/2006 that a U.S. Olympics coach had been fined by Italian authorities for selling Olympic tickets without a proper license. The coach had apparently received a warning from police on 02/21/2006 about his activity. MOI officials have commented to OSOC CNIO liaison that the majority of fines issued for ticket scalping have been given to American citizens (Amcits). CA will follow up through OSOC CNIO liaison to obtain additional information on regulations about illegal ticket selling. SECURITY OPERATIONS -------------- ¶13. (SBU) OSOC learned through the MOI that NBC officials expressed concern over the proximity to the NBC studio of an Italian Fire Brigade CBRN monitoring exercise on 02/21/2006. Italian authorities advised NBC that the monitoring was routine activity conducted by security forces at selected venues. The NBC Studio is located at Piazza San Carlo, near the site of the Today Show broadcasts. ¶14. (S/NF) OSOC continues to monitor the status of a Tunisian national arrested by Italian authorities in Milan. After obtaining the name of the individual, OSOC conducted namechecks on the subject, with negative results. The results of these checks will be shared with Italian intelligence agency liaison. VIPs -------------- ¶15. (SBU) The White House Delegation to the Closing Ceremonies is expected to arrive in Turin on 02/24/2006. They will have a full schedule of press events and viewing of Olympics competitions on 02/25/2006 and 02/26/2006, culminating in their attendance at the Closing Ceremonies. They will depart Turin immediately following the end of the ceremonies. ¶16. (SBU) TSA representatives in Turin continue to work closely with Italian and USG officials to facilitate the arrival and departure of U.S. VIPs. OSOC remains engaged with Italian authorities to provide security assistance during the WH delegation,s visit. PENDING MATTERS -------------- ¶17. (SBU) OSOC continues to work with Italian counterparts on the investigation of the theft of a TOROC vehicle pass. OSOC drivers will report on the access controls they encounter when using a vehicle pass to enter an Olympic venue, particularly in light of the possibility that a vehicle pass would allow hostile elements to approach large numbers of spectators and/or athletes. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶18. (U) On 02/23/2006, the intense Italian media focus on domestic political issues overshadowed coverage of Olympic events and security-related news. The front pages of major papers continue to carry photos of Italian Olympics medalists. ¶19. (U) Receiving front-page coverage in La Stampa and several other papers was the RAI News 24 story alleging that Italians took part in prisoner interrogations at Abu Ghraib prison. The Government of Italy categorically denied official Italian involvement in the scandal and stated that it is not aware of other Italian nationals being involved. Though there was no U.S.-related angle to the story, La Stampa reprinted photos depicting the abuse of Abu Ghraib prisoners to emphasize the possible Italian connection to the scandal. ¶20. (U) Also gaining attention was the White House announcement of Prime Minister Berlusconi,s upcoming visit to the U.S., including his scheduled meeting with President Bush on 02/28/2006 and his planned speech to a joint session of Congress. ¶21. (U) AP reports on the Austrian Olympics doping allegations, including: results from the athletes' blood tests are still pending and that the scandal could hurt Austria's bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. The IOC has formed a special commission to investigate the doping allegations. ¶22. (U) In separate Olympics reporting, USA Today noted the decrease in activist protests and commented that Italian officials have moved "No TAV" and environmental protesters out of sight to avoid negative publicity for the Olympics. ¶23. (U) The LATimes, bylined by the Rome bureau chief, quotes a USG PA official on burglaries in Turin hotels. (The burglaries and OSOC liaison with Italian authorities and U.S. sponsors has been previously reported in sitreps.) PA notes that the LATimes report paraphrases the PA statements in a misleading way; in response to the question whether all of the victims were Amcits, the PA representative responded that the victims were of diverse nationalities. The reporter said that she had other sources indicating that some Americans had been victims. OSOC information on the burglaries indicates that there have been no Amcit victims of the crimes. ¶24. (U) The PA strategy of placing personnel with USOC's press operation has paid off with the placement in Italian media of several articles on U.S. athletes. As an example, wire service ANSA carried a positive interview with Dr. Eric Heiden, a member of the White House Delegation to the Opening Ceremonies. PA is currently in contact with representatives of U.S. speed skater Chris Witty to plan an Italy-wide speaking program following the Games. ¶25. (U) In preparation for the Paralympics, PA has coordinated with USOC to schedule interviews with La Stampa for two U.S. Paralympians. Other media opportunities for Paralympic athletes are being explored. PA also continues to plan press and television coverage at multiple sites for the White House Delegation to the Closing Ceremonies. The Public Affairs Office in Turin may be reached at 39-011-55-99-368. CONSULAR AFFAIRS -------------- ¶26. (U) On 02/22/2006, CA received a request for passport assistance from an Amcit whose travel documents had been lost in Turin. In response to previous requests for assistance, eight passports were produced by Consulate General Milan and returned to Turin for distribution. ¶27. (U) As reported in REFTEL, CA followed up on the hospitalization of a U.S. Olympics coach by passing CA contact information to the hospital where the coach was staying. In a later conversation with hospital staff, CA learned that the coach had been released earlier that day. The coach will return to the hospital on 02/23/2006 for a check-up. ¶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