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