TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 000769

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 PARALYMPIC GAMES
SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT
(SITREP) #2, 03/11/2006

REF: ROME 00000752


1. (SBU) The following cable provides information on
security, public
diplomacy, and consular activities in Turin, Italy, for the
2006 Winter
Paralympic 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) Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and a crowd of
30,000 attended
the spectacular Opening Ceremony of the IX Paralympics
featuring 48 athletes
from 39 countries. During the ceremony, US. Secretary of
Education Margaret
Spelling, who is heading up the US Delegation met with
President Ciampi at
a reception he hosted prior to the Opening Ceremony. The DS
agents assigned
to the Opening Ceremony reported no untoward incidents.
Organizers expect
200,000 fans at the four venue sites during the Games.


5. (U) Terrorist Activity: No activity has been identified.

6.(SBU) Threats: There is no credible, specific information
suggesting that
terrorists intend to target the Paralympic Games. Italian
authorities remain
on high alert for suspicious activity throughout Italy
despite the lack of
of a known terrorist threat.


7. (S/NF) Italian authorities are moderately concerned about
the well-publicized
general threat to Italy in the run-up to the April 9-10 2006
Italian general
elections. However, there was no actionable intelligence
indicating that
Islamic terrorists or other militants were planning an
operation during that
time frame. There is no indication that this threat will
affect the Paralympics.


8. (U) Demonstrations/Protests: The OSC is not aware of any
scheduled protests
or plans to disrupt the Opening Ceremony. Italian authorities
remain on
heightened alert throughout Turin to ensure the safety of
spectators and VIPs
attending the Paralympics.


9. (U) The USG interagency OSC, JOC, and TIC will operate
seven days a week from
0800 to 1700 hours. The hours of operation will be extended
to include any night
events.


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

10.(U) There are no unresolved issues at this time.


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

11.(U) The USG Delegation to the Paralympics held a press
conference yesterday
morning at the Torino Esposizione (venue for sledge hockey)
Media Center.
Approximately 20 journalists attended,including a journalist
from USA Today covering
disability issues. We are monitoring resulting media
coverage. At the Polytechnic
University of Turin presentation in the afternoon of March
10, Delegation head Margaret
Spelling held a 20 minute sit down interview with Turin-based
national daily La Stampa
and held pull-aside interviews with local edition of
center-left national daily La Repubblica
and wire service ANSA. We know the La Stampa interview will
come out on Sunday.
March 12. Secretary Spelling was warmly welcomed by
Polytechnic University Rector Father
Francesco Profumo. Post will follow up on mutual areas for
further collaboration.


12. (U) Local Media Coverage: La Stampa ("The Neverending
Celebration") and La Repubblica
("Games of Courage and Heart") have large articles focusing
on the Paralympics Opening
Ceremonies last night, and the participation, with lots of
applause of GOI President
Carlo Ciampi and International Paralympic Committee
President, Phil Craven. Both papers
picked up on Ciampi's opening speech and pull his quote - "Ci
Fate Amare La Vita
(You Make Us Love Life). The papers cite 25,000 participants
in the Opening Ceremony
and a standing ovation of Alex Zanardi, Italian Formula One
champion.


13. (U) One negative article in La Stampa criticizes Italian
television broadcaster
RAI DUE's live coverage of the Opening Ceremonies.
Apparently, they cut off part
of the broadcast of the Opening Ceremonies on a couple of
occasions, and broadcast
a cartoon which this particular journalist found very
insulting.



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


14. (U) Consular Section Turin as no action requests. The
Consular Office for the
duration of the Turin Paralympics is co-located with the
Public Affairs office in
the same building as the OSC and Olympics Coordination Office
in Turin. The Consular
Section is staffed by four staff members and one consular
officer. The office will
be open from 0900 to 1800 hours. The office provides
emergency services for US
citizens and has established and extensive network of
contacts with hotels, hospitals,
and local law enforcement officials. Contact information:
Telephone number: 011-5599-330.
FAX: 011-5599-551. Additional information may be found on
HTTP://Milan.USConsulate.Gov.
SPOGLI