Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics: Situation Report #5

UNCLAS VANCOUVER 000070 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 #5 ¶1. (SBU) The following report provides security-related information for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games as of noon on February 15, 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 Protests: ¶2. (SBU) February 14 Protest Activity - The 19th Annual Memorial Women's March took place from noon to 4 p.m. yesterday. The march began at the Carnegie Community Centre and proceeded through Downtown Eastside. This event was not overtly anti-Olympics and there were no reports of disruptive activity. Vancouver's 36th Annual Chinese New Year Parade also took place yesterday with no Olympics-related disruptions. ¶3. (SBU) Current Protest Activity - The second successive "2010 Autonomous Day of Action" is scheduled for today. As evidenced in Saturday's demonstrations, small groups of anarchists may engage in acts of vandalism and confrontations with local law enforcement. An anti-homelessness rally called "No Empty Talk, No Empty Lots" is scheduled for noon at Pigeon Park (at Carrall and East Hastings Streets). An "Anti-War and Anti-Militarization Moving Spectacle" will also take place at the Vancouver Art Gallery (Georgia Street side) at 6 p.m. ¶4. (SBU) Anticipated Protest Activity - No demonstrations or protests are scheduled from 16 through 19 February. The next demonstration is scheduled to be a "Rally for National Housing" on Saturday, 20 February at the Vancouver Art Gallery beginning at noon. Diplomatic Security Updates will continue to monitor protest activity and will provide updates as they become available. Incidents: ¶5. (SBU) No significant incidents have occurred during this reporting period. Threats: ¶6. (SBU) At this time, there are no known specific, credible terrorist threats against the Vancouver Olympics. SECURITY OPERATIONS ¶7. (SBU) A vehicle in U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's motorcade was involved in a minor accident on Sunday when a van in the motorcade was rear ended by the motorcade vehicle behind it. Two individuals in the van were taken to a local hospital as a precaution and were later released. The Vice President's vehicle was not involved in the accident. ¶8. (SBU) U.S. Vice President Joe Biden departed Vancouver this morning en route to Washington, D.C. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ¶9. The Public Affairs desk received an initial inquiry about the motorcade event from Global TV. We worked closely with White House staffers to keep them apprised of that initial media call and provided contingency planning advice in preparation of the news becoming more widely circulated. We collaborated closely with the JOC's SWO to keep all parties informed of news coverage, which ultimately received wide publication in the United States and lesser coverage in Canada (partly because the winning of Canada's first Olympic gold medal eclipsed the motorcade accident in Canadian media). CONSULAR ISSUES ¶10. An AMCIT has been arrested and charged in relation to the February 13th disturbance by the Black Bloc anti-V2010 group. ACS staff report that subject will be transferred from Vancouver PD custody to CBSA custody, with the expectation that he will be taken to the Canada-U.S. border in the next couple days. Latest information indicates that he will face two weapons charges at a March 15th court date. ¶11. ACS staff has been in contact with the two distinguished guests of the Vice-President who were involved in the February 14th VPOTUS motorcade accident. Latest reports indicate that both were treated at a local hospital and released. POLITICAL/GENERAL ISSUES ¶12. Vice-President Biden hosted a reception in support of the USOC at the home of the US Consul General. The event was attended by approximately 70 guests and featured remarks by the Vice President supporting US Olympic efforts and the work of the USOC. Following the reception, Vice-President Biden attended the US-China women's hockey game where the US defeated China 12-1. ¶13. Unseasonably warm weather conditions continue in the Vancouver area. ¶14. In an event described by local media as "Our long national nightmare is over," Canadian men's freestyle mogul skier Alexandre Bilodeau won the country's first ever Olympic gold medal on Canadian soil. A schedule and results of all competitions throughout the Games can be found at http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-schedule -results/. CHICOLA