TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ROME 000568 SIPDIS 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: N/A TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER OLYMPICS SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT (SITREP) #18, 02/24/2006 REF: ROME 558 ¶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); European high-speed train project that is controversial in mountain towns near Olympics sites (TAV - Italian acronym); 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 02/23/2006. ¶5. (SBU) The White House Delegation to the Closing Ceremonies is scheduled to arrive in Turin Friday evening. Host government, TOROC, and USG security officials are reviewing operations and re-energizing all components to ensure that the highest appropriate security measures are in place around Olympic venues and related sites during the upcoming weekend. In light of the visits of U.S. and Italian VIPs, the Closing Ceremonies, and large crowds participating in the "White Night" celebration planned for downtown Turin on 02/25/2006, Italian authorities remain focused on detecting and deterring activity that could disrupt the closing of the Games. SECURITY -------------- Terrorist Activity/Threats: ¶6. (SBU) There is no indication that terrorist organizations intend to target the Olympic Games. Italian authorities continue to monitor the Islamic community in Italy for indications of terrorist activity or unrest stemming from the cartoon/t-shirt controversy. Demonstrations/Protests: ¶7. (U) A small, peaceful demonstration took place on 2/23/2006 in front of the Russian Team Store, which is adjacent to the OSOC office. The demonstrators, who had a permit, were protesting Russia,s policy on Chechnya. Police presence was adequate to deter disruption of the store,s operations or interfere with passers-by. ¶8. (U) Two "No TAV" events are scheduled for the upcoming weekend. On 02/24/2006, a "No TAV" meeting, featuring an anti-TAV video, will be held in the mountains near Turin. On 02/25/2006, activists in Turin will screen a separate anti-TAV movie. Protests are not expected to occur in conjunction with either event and no disruption of Olympic events is anticipated. ¶9. (U) On 02/22/2006, Tibetan protesters stormed the Chinese Embassy in Rome. The Rome demonstration was held in conjunction with an ongoing hunger strike by members of the Turin Tibetan community who are protesting the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Incidents: ¶10. (SBU) On 2/23/2006, Italian police responded quickly and effectively to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the vicinity of the Multimedia Center at the Oval Lingotto complex (the speed skating venue). The vehicle, which bore Spanish license plates, had been left running and locked. Two occupants had exited the car and had briefly left the area. Authorities cordoned off the area and an Italian Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team forced entry into the vehicle. Investigation by the EOD unit determined the vehicle was not a threat. The owners of the vehicle were later identified as Spanish journalists. SECURITY OPERATIONS -------------- ¶11. (SBU) OSOC continues to coordinate with Italian authorities and U.S. Olympic sponsors to identify and deter disruptive activity in the final days of the Olympics. There is a final security briefing for U.S. Olympic sponsors and businesses on 02/24/2006. OSOC remains focused on providing security assistance to U.S. VIP delegations visiting Turin for the Closing Ceremonies. OSOC is also working with USOC and Italian law enforcement to address security measures for the upcoming Paralympics. VIPs -------------- ¶12. (SBU) The White House Delegation to the Closing Ceremonies is scheduled to arrive in Turin this evening. They will be joined by the U.S. Ambassador to Italy, who will arrive in Turin on 02/25/2006. The delegation,s current schedule contains a full range of activities on 02/25/2006, including public and press appearances, an MOI security briefing, attendance at a USG-hosted reception, and attendance at the Closing Ceremonies on 02/26/2006. On behalf of the delegation, Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani will be the honorary chairperson of the CNIO security briefing on 02/25/2006. The delegation is scheduled to depart Turin immediately following the Closing Ceremonies on 02/26/2006. There is no indication that activist groups intend to disrupt the delegation,s visit. OSOC continues to coordinate with Italian authorities to identify planned activist events that may disrupt the delegation,s movements during their stay. PENDING MATTERS -------------- ¶13. (SBU) OSOC continues to work with Italian counterparts on the investigation of the theft of a TOROC vehicle pass. OSOC has confirmed that Italian law enforcement is conducting secondary access checks at the entrance to Olympic venues. OSOC assesses these checks as being adequate to prevent hostile elements from using the stolen vehicle pass to closely approach Olympic sites. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶14. (U) On 02/24/2006, Olympic security news received prominent coverage in national papers, as Italian news reported on the suspicious vehicle incident near the Lingotto venue (see paragraph 10). La Stampa carried feature coverage of the alleged car bomb threat, to include photos. Not all of the details of the incident were accurately portrayed by the press, and prominence of the story was probably attributable to the lack of other security news. The incident took place at a media center, which also helped to focus press attention on the event. ¶15. (U) Domestic politics and the fall-out from possible Italian connections to the Abu Ghraib scandal remain key components of Italian media reporting. ANSA wire service carried Prime Minister Berlusconi,s interview with al-Jazeera, in which he called for the closing of Guantanamo Bay. Communist daily Il Manifesto contained additional interviews with the former Iraqi prisoner who had allegedly been abused by Italian nationals in Iraq. The testimony of an Italian prosecutor at the Council of Europe hearings on renditions was noted in several dailies; the official testified that the Italian Minister of Justice had not adequately supported the request to seek prosecution of USG employees for the alleged rendition. ¶16. (U) General Olympics coverage continues to focus on straightforward reporting of sporting events. A small article in La Stampa recycles a story from the New York Times on the disappointment of advertisers about the supposed lack of American Olympics heroes from the Turin Games. ¶17. (U) PA continues media outreach efforts. Specifically, PA has planned press and television coverage, including an NBC Today Show interview with Rudolph Giuliani, for the White House Delegation to the Closing Ceremonies. PA press efforts are in direct media competition with the final ski runs of Bode Miller and local favorite Giorgio Rocca in the mountain venues; press coverage of these events will be heavy. PA is in touch with the publicity agents of U.S. Olympians Chris Witty and Joey Cheek to discuss potential Mission Italy speaker programs after the Games. Though PA is in competition with paying advertisers and other athlete speaking opportunities to shedule these appearances, they remain optimistic that at least one speaker will participate. On 02/23/2006, PA facilitated a La Stampa English edition interview with two U.S. Paralympian skiers. The article will appear soon. On 02/24/2006, PA facilitated interviews for the same Paralympians on NBC's Today Show. Other media opportunities for U.S. Paralympic athletes are being explored for the month of March. ¶18. (U) The Public Affairs Office in Turin may be reached at 39-011-55-99-368. CONSULAR AFFAIRS -------------- ¶19. (U) On 02/23/2006, CA received five requests for American citizens services. Three American citizens (Amcits) applied for emergency passports and two individuals picked up passports that were produced by the Consulate General in Milan. A lost/stolen passport was recovered by police and provided to CA; they are attempting to contact the owner. Another Amcit called to request the location of the nearest American Express office. ¶20. (U) In follow-up to information reported in REFTEL, CA learned that a U.S. Olympics coach received a 1,032 Euro fine for selling Olympic tickets without proper TOROC license. On 02/23/2006, CA also learned of two additional administrative actions against Amcits illegally selling Olympic event tickets. ¶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