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