Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics: Situation Report #7

UNCLAS VANCOUVER 000078 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 #7 ¶1. (SBU) The following report provides security-related information for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games as of noon on February 17, 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) Current Protest Activity - United Church of Canada members, University of British Columbia Catholic students, Regent College evangelical students, and Streams of Justice will stage an anti-Olympic march to (UBC) Thunderbird Arena today at noon. The march, which is expected to be peaceful, will highlight how the Olympics have historically displaced housing for the poor. The Thunderbird Arena hosts women's ice hockey events, which begin at 2:30 p.m. ¶3. (U//FOUO//LES) Additionally, members of Fathers-4-Justice (F4J) - an organization that campaigns against the family law system, had planned a stunt demonstration, possibly to climb or chain themselves to the Lions Gate Bridge or another bridge in BC's Lower Mainland. Previous direct actions by F4J have included scaling the New Westminster BC Supreme Court building, the Sapperton SkyTrain Station, and the Alex Fraser Bridge. The F4J website states that members use non-violent direct actions and civil disobedience to attract publicity to their campaign and exert pressure on politicians. As of 0645 PST, DS sources reported local police presence on the Lions Gate Bridge. Police were on the scene in response to reports F4J activists had unfurled a banner on the bridge during the morning rush hour. ¶4. (SBU) Anticipated Protest Activity - No protests are currently scheduled for 18 or 19 February. The next demonstration - a "Rally for National Housing" - is scheduled for noon on Saturday, February 20 at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Diplomatic Security will continue to monitor protest activity and will provide updates as they become available. Incidents: ¶5. (U) LiveCity Yaletown Concert Canceled After Spectator Injuries - Open sources report the Alexisonfire concert at the LiveCity Yaletown Olympic venue was canceled February 16 after spectator injuries resulted from an alleged "rowdy" and "violent" crowd. Several Twitter users report that a barricade collapsed and injured fans just as the band started to play their concert set. The venue will reopen for events this evening. Threats: ¶6. (SBU) At this time, there are no known specific, credible terrorist threats against the Vancouver Olympics. ¶7. (U//FOUO/LES) Telephonic Threat to Four Seasons Hotel in Whistler - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigated this threat - communicated February 16 - and have attributed it to a disgruntled former guest who called from California. The FBI has shared information with the RCMP; there appears to be no nexus to terrorism and the threat appears to lack substance. SECURITY OPERATIONS ¶8. (SBU) Other than scheduled USOC and team movements, no major Olympics-related security operations have transpired during this reporting period. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ¶9. Ambassador Jacobson made an appearance on CTV's Canada AM television show this morning. In a live broadcast from Whistler, the Ambassador offered positive remarks on the manner in which the Games have been conducted, on the displays of Canadian national pride and patriotism and on the general spirit of goodwill evident in the Games. Canada AM's estimated audience on 1.6 million viewers across Canada. Also the Ambassador's Olympics blog highlighting the enjoyable experience was featured and linked in leading national newspaper the Globe and Mail 's political blog. CONSULAR ISSUES ¶10. Nothing significant to report. POLITICAL/GENERAL ISSUES ¶11. The US Presidential Delegation to the Closing Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics will be led by Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and include Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice. ¶12. Unseasonably warm weather conditions continue in 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