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