Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics: Situation Report #2

UNCLAS VANCOUVER 000062 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 #2 ¶1. (SBU) The following report provides security-related information for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games as of noon on February 12, 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 USG Joint Operations Center can be contacted on a 24-hour basis at 604-692-2509, ext 4013. SECURITY ISSUES Olympic Protests: ¶2. (SBU) Minor Disruption of Olympic Torch Relay - As anticipated, the Olympic Torch Relay encountered minor disruptions as it circulated through urban Vancouver this morning. At one point, the relay halted as a knot of activists blocked a downtown thoroughfare, after which local security personnel and Olympics officials re-routed it. As of this writing, protest activity has been light, and there have been no arrests or incidents of property damage or violence. ¶3. (SBU) Anticipated Protest Activity - The Opening Ceremonies commences at 6 p.m. today at BC Place Stadium; anti-Olympic factions - including umbrella organizations like No2010 and the Olympics Resistance Network - are planning a 3 p.m. "Take Back Our City" march from the Vancouver Art Gallery to the stadium. Canadian officials expect between 1,000 and 1,500 protesters during the rally. Incidents: ¶4. (SBU) Suspicious Package at SeaBus Terminal Rendered Safe - A suspicious package was identified Thursday evening in North Vancouver at Lonsdale quay near the north shore SeaBus terminal. SeaBus (water taxi) service between Vancouver and North Vancouver was suspended while RCMP EOD personnel examined the package. There was additional concern because the package was located near fuel tanks. RCMP, utilizing a water cannon, neutralized the package and determined it contained fishing rods and equipment. The SeaBus terminal subsequently reopened. ¶5. (SBU) U.S. citizen deported from Canada - The Canadian Border Security Agency deported AmCit Gregory Marks to the United States after finding an inert hand grenade and pornographic literature in his vehicle. Marks also possessed a typed paper outlining a scenario for paragliding into the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. The scenario describes launching from Whistler with the goal of gaining notoriety. An FBI interview determined Marks was emotionally disturbed and has no ties to domestic militia groups. Threats: ¶6. (SBU) At this time, there are no known specific, credible terrorist threats against the Vancouver Olympics. SECURITY OPERATIONS ¶7. (SBU) U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is wheels down in Vancouver today, February 12, and is scheduled to stay at the Vancouver Fairmont Hotel. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ¶8. Public Affairs staff was fully engaged today in attending to media needs surrounding the opening ceremonies. PA staff from Mission Canada worked with press staff from the Office of the Vice President to manage press at the arrival of Air Force 2, the athletes' meet-and-greet with the Vice President and Ambassador, and the GOC reception for Heads of delegation. Call volume to the Public Affairs telephone line in the OCO was light. CONSULAR ISSUES ¶9. Whistler ACS reported that an alpine skier on the U.S. Olympic Team was injured in a practice run at Whistler. She has been evacuated by helicopter from Whistler. DS FLO reports the Amcit probably had a concussion and was evacuated from Whistler most likely as a preventative measure. ACS has no further information about her situation at this time. ¶10. ACS reported the Consulate visit of an Amcit claiming USG officials had promised her "Olympian" status. ACS spoke to her mother who indicated that her daughter is not taking her medication. RSO was able to confirm through CBP that the Amcit has a return ticket to Ohio on 13 February. ACS will remain alert to any further developments. POLITICAL/GENERAL ISSUES ¶11. Celebratory atmosphere in Vancouver is increasing as the Olympic flame makes it way around the city streets. The flame crossed over the Lion's Gate Bridge a little before 0700 PST. Shortly afterward, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger carried the flame through the Park, passing off to past Olympian Sebastian Coe. The flame will continue a meandering movement through the city until arriving at the Opening Ceremonies at BC Place shortly after 2000 PST. ¶12. The only sad news on an otherwise festive day was the report out of Whistler of the death of Georgian Luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili. Kumaritashvili was on a practice run at the Whistler Sliding Center when his sled veered out of control up the side wall at the fastest part of the track. The athlete was thrown from the sled into a pillar and died of his injuries a short time later. It was estimated he was traveling at nearly 90 mph at the time of the accident. ¶13. Vice President Biden and the rest of the Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremonies arrived safely in Vancouver at noon 2/12. They have a full program in the afternoon, including a Meet and Greet with U.S. Olympic Athletes and attendance at the GOC hosted Heads of Delegation reception. The final event is the Opening Ceremonies, which are scheduled to begin at 1800 PST and are estimated to last three hours. Preliminary round competition started this morning in Whistler for the men's individual ski jumping. Competitions begin in earnest tomorrow morning with the first medals awarded in the final round of men's ski jumping. A schedule and results of all competitions throughout the Games can be found at http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-schedule -results/. CHICOLA