Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10VANCOUVER62
2010-02-12 22:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Vancouver
Cable title:
Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics: Situation Report #2
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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
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
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