Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics: Situation Report #17

UNCLAS VANCOUVER 000114 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR DS/TIA STATE FOR DS/DSS/DO STATE FOR DS/P/MECU STATE FOR DS/DO/P STATE FOR DS/ICI/CI STATE FOR DS/T/ATA STATE FOR DS/TIA/ITA STATE FOR DS/TIA/PII STATE FOR DS/TIA/CC STATE FOR S/CT STATE FOR CA/OCS/ACS/WHA STATE FOR DS/IP/WHA STATE FOR WHA/CAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC KOLY CASC CA PTER AMGT PINR OVIP SUBJECT: Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics: Situation Report #17 ¶1. (SBU) The following report provides security-related information for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games as of noon February 27, 2010. Please visit the following link for additional classified reporting: https://nol.nctc.sgov.gov/ng/cgi-bin/nctcHome .cgi?event=Vancouver_2 ¶010. The interagency U.S. Government (USG) Joint Operations Center (JOC) can be contacted on a 24-hour basis at 604-692-2509, ext ¶4013. ¶2. (U//FOUO//LES) Canadian and USG authorities are currently unaware of any specific, credible threats to the Games as the Closing Ceremonies approach Sunday, February 28, at 5:30 p.m. PST. BC Place will open to ticket holders at 1:30 p.m. PST. Anti-Olympics demonstrations scheduled for Sunday are not expected to affect the Closing Ceremonies. SECURITY ISSUES ¶3. (U) USA, Canada to face off in Gold Medal Hockey Game - Friday's semifinal games set the stage for the much-anticipated Gold Medal match between Teams USA and Canada. As with previous games between the perennial rivals, concerns exist as to the potentially contentious nature of Sunday's 12:15 p.m. PST game at Canada Hockey Place (CHP) and its impact on public order. Downtown liquor stores will restrict alcohol sales through the weekend in an attempt to mitigate potential incidents. CHP is located within blocks of Vancouver's entertainment district, primary pedestrian corridors, and many hotels. ¶4. (U//FOUO//LES) Mass exodus expected at Vancouver International Airport March 1 - A record number of passengers - an estimated 40,000 - is expected to depart the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on March 1. The crush of travelers may create delays, potential confrontations between passengers and security/airport staff, and safety/crowd control problems in an emergency. Canadian authorities are currently unaware of any threats to YVR. Protests: ¶5. (U) February 26 Protest Activity - The "Critical Mass Bike Ride" transpired without incident. ¶6. (U//FOUO//LES) Current Protest Activity - The "Pirates of Justice" flash mob - a group protesting working conditions on Olympic security accommodation vessels - is scheduled for noon today adjacent to Canada Place. This group's previous activities were not associated with property damage or violence. Approximately seventy attendees are currently registered for this demonstration. ¶7. (U//FOUO//LES) The anti-homelessness advocacy group Red Tent is staging an "Olympic Wrap-Up" demonstration at Canada Pavilion (Dunsmuir and Beatty, approximately 2 blocks NE of Canada Hockey Place) at noon PST today. Demonstrators plan to assemble at Keefer and Abbott Streets then move approximately one block west to Canada Pavilion. Once at Canada Pavilion, activists intend to set up 142 red tarps and use 1700 feet of "messaging" to "wrap the entire pavilion" as part of their call for an end to homelessness. Protesters are encouraged to bring a paintbrush, instruments, and sleeping gear to stay overnight. The march from the assembly area at Keefer and Abbott Streets to the Pavilion will likely disrupt traffic and temporarily obstruct public access to the exhibit, but it not anticipated to interfere with any Olympic events. ¶8. (U//FOUO//LES) Anticipated Protest Activity - The "Games Over! Resistance Lives!" demonstration is scheduled to take place from 1 to 5 p.m. on February 28 at the intersection of Smithe and Cambie Streets, several blocks south of BC Place. This demonstration has 171 attendees currently confirmed and is expected to be peaceful. Incidents: ¶9. (U//FOUO//LES) At c. 10:50 a.m. PST today, TSA and CBP JOC sources received word of a suspicious item at the Vancouver Airport international terminal. The suspicious item - an outbound passenger's bag - was inspected and found benign by CBP and Canadian law enforcement personnel. No further action was required by Canadian or USG personnel and the incident is considered closed. No other Olympics-related security incidents occurred during this reporting period. Threats: ¶10. (SBU) At this time, there are no known specific, credible transnational terrorist threats against the Vancouver Olympics. SECURITY OPERATIONS ¶11. (SBU) Diplomatic Security remains engaged in daily USOC team movements. ¶12. (SBU) Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice will depart Vancouver March ¶1. The VIP delegation is scheduled to attend several events, including the Men's Gold Medal Hockey match at Canada Hockey Place and the Closing Ceremonies. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ¶13. There is no significant information or activity to report. CONSULAR ISSUES ¶14. There is no significant information or activity to report. POLITICAL/GENERAL ISSUES ¶15. Cooler weather and rain have returned to the Vancouver area. A schedule and results of all competitions throughout the Games can be found at http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-schedule -results/. CHICOLA