This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 ROME 000506 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SENSITIVE 
 
PASS TO TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (TSA) AND 
GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO); DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR 
S/ES-O, S/CT, EUR, DS, AND CA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: X1 
TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER OLYMPICS
SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT 
(SITREP) #14, 02/20/2006 
 
REF: ROME 504 
 
Classified By: Deborah Graze, Consul General Milan for reason 1.4 (d) 
 
¶1. (SBU) The following cable provides information on 
security, public diplomacy, and consular activities in Turin, 
Italy, for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The interagency Olympic Security Coordination (OSC) 
Office can be contacted on a 24-hour basis at the following 
numbers: 
 
USG Joint Operations Center (JOC): 39-011-55-99-793/794/564 
(tel); 011-39-011-55-99-590 (fax) 
 
USG Threat Integration Center (TIC): 39-011-55-99-790/791 
(tel); 011-39-011-55-99-590 (fax). 
 
¶3. (SBU)  Attached is a key for USG acronyms used within this 
cable: the inter-agency Olympic Security Coordination Office 
(OSC); the USG inter-agency Olympic Security Operations 
Center OSOC, including the 24/7 Joint Operations Center (JOC) 
and Threat Integration Center (TIC); the National Information 
Center for the Winter Olympics (CNIO), which is a Government 
of Italy (GOI) hosted multinational center; the Turin 
Olympics Organizing Committee (TOROC); the International 
Olympics Committee (IOC); the US Olympic Committee (USOC); 
the Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Public 
Affairs/Public Diplomacy (PA/PD); Consular Affairs (CA); and 
the Italian Ministry of Interior (MOI). 
 
 
KEY EVENTS 
---------- 
 
¶4. (U) Olympic events took place without significant incident 
on 02/19/2006.  Several Olympic alpine competitions were 
postponed due to snowfall in the mountains. 
 
¶5. (U) The final day of the "No TAV" symposium concluded 
uneventfully.  As promised by the organizers, symposium 
participants did not conduct demonstrations over the weekend 
and the event did not distract from the Olympic competitions 
being held nearby.  Adverse weather in the mountains helped 
to limit the number of people attending the series of 
meetings. 
 
 
SECURITY 
-------- 
 
Terrorist Activity/Threats: 
 
¶6. (S/NF)  There is no reporting to suggest a specific, 
credible threat to Olympic sporting events or participants. 
Italian authorities continue to monitor indications of 
terrorist activity elsewhere in Italy, particularly in nearby 
Milan; refer to IIR 5 398 6522 06 and TD-314/10053-06.  In 
addition, Italian security forces remain alert to the 
potential for disruption by activist groups and OSOC 
continues to coordinate with Italian counterparts to identify 
activity that could impact on the safety of U.S. interests 
within the Olympic theater. 
 
Demonstrations/Protests: 
 
¶7. (S/NF) As noted in REFTEL, the frequency and intensity of 
anti-Olympics protests has decreased since the beginning of 
the Games.  However, according to Italian officials, the 
possibility exists that some groups may focus on protests 
against Olympic sponsors before the end of the Games.  Please 
refer to TD-314/12103-06 for additional information.  OSOC 
continues to pass specific information to U.S. Olympic 
sponsors regarding demonstrations in order to eliminate 
potential conflicts between protesters and sponsored events 
and other soft targets. 
 
¶8. (S/NF) Violent protests in reaction to the publication of 
the controversial Prophet Mohammad cartoons continue to occur 
around the world, and are widely reported in Italian media. 
Following the recent attack on the Italian Consulate in 
Benghazi, Libya, Italian security forces are alert for 
indications that the unrest could spread to Italy and disrupt 
the Olympic Games.  The 02/18/2006 resignation of Italian 
Reform Minister Roberto Calderoli has helped to dampen 
domestic tension in Italy and the widely-reported 02/18/2006 
visit of Foreign Minister Fini to a Roman mosque was 
well-received by the Muslim community.  As of 02/19/2006, 
Italian authorities had no indication that the Muslim 
community in Turin and northern Italy intended to demonstrate 
in reaction to Calderoli,s controversial t-shirts.  Refer to 
TD-314/12104-06 for additional information.  OSOC continues 
to coordinate with Italian counterparts to identify security 
concerns affecting U.S. athletes and spectators as a result 
of the cartoon controversy, or reports of prisoner abuse at 
Abu Ghraib prison and Guantanamo Bay. 
 
Incidents: 
 
¶9. (SBU) Olympic sponsors continue to report hotel room 
break-ins to OSOC.  The majority of reported incidents 
occurred when the victims were out to dinner or engaged in 
hospitality events.  Many of the targeted rooms were situated 
on the first or second floors of the hotels, allowing easy 
access and quick escape routes for the perpetrators.  All of 
the hotels were open to the public without an accreditation 
system in place.  To date, American citizens have not been 
the targets of these thefts; however, U.S. Olympic sponsor 
representatives and guests are housed in at least one of the 
hotels experiencing increased crime.  OSOC has requested that 
all U.S. sponsors continue to provide information on criminal 
activity. OSOC will use this information to identify crime 
trends in Turin. 
 
¶10. (SBU) On 02/19/2006, the Director of Security for 
Olympics Sponsor Nike informed OSOC that a suspicious bag was 
reported at a bus stop in front of the Nike Olympic 
Hospitality Center.  Italian law enforcement officers 
responding to the incident were unable to locate the bag and 
a subsequent review of security camera footage did not reveal 
any suspicious items.  Due to recent reports of suspicious 
bags at various private sector facilities, Nike was concerned 
that the incident may have been an attempt to probe security 
operations.  OSOC continues to work with U.S. Olympic 
sponsors to address security concerns; OSOC through CNIO 
liaison has previously noted to MOI the ongoing USG concerns 
regarding recent incidents involving suspicious bags in 
public locations. 
 
¶11. (SBU)  On 02/19/2006, USOC reported that unidentified 
individuals in nearby apartments took photographs of the USA 
House.  OSOC is working with USOC to obtain additional 
details on the incident and to determine the specific 
location from which the photos were taken.  OSOC continues to 
enjoy a close working relationship with USOC security 
representatives. 
 
¶12. (SBU)  The MOI passed information through OSOC to USOC 
regarding the travel of a U.S. Paralympic athlete to Italy. 
The athlete is currently restricted from travel to countries 
enforcing the Schengen Agreement, as the Government of France 
had previously prohibited his travel due to prior drug 
charges.  The MOI advised that the athlete must apply for a 
limited visa that would allow him to travel only to Italy. 
OSOC has passed this information to USOC for follow-up; CA 
colleagues have been informed for background information. 
 
 
SECURITY OPERATIONS 
------------------- 
 
¶13. (S/NF) In information provided to OSOC CNIO liaison, 
Italian authorities stated security at Olympic venues will 
not be increased in response to the recent attack on Italian 
diplomatic interests in Libya.  However, media reporting and 
OSOC interaction with Italian counterparts continue to 
indicate that Italian law enforcement officials remain 
concerned about the possibility of disruptive incidents or 
protests stemming from the Prophet Mohammad cartoons and the 
actions of former Italian Reform Minister Calderoli. Refer to 
TD-314/12104-06 for additional information regarding Italian 
interest in Olympics security.  Through CNIO liaison, OSOC 
has requested that the MOI provide any additional information 
regarding changes to security countermeasures at Olympic 
venues. 
 
 
VIPs 
---- 
 
¶14. (SBU)  The U.S. Ambassador to Italy departed Turin and 
returned to Rome without incident on 02/19/2006. 
 
¶15. (SBU)  The White House Delegation to the Closing 
Ceremonies, led by former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, is 
scheduled to arrive in Turin on 02/24/2006.  Press coverage 
of the delegation continues to be minimal.  OSOC is working 
with Italian counterparts to ensure that the delegation,s 
visit takes place without disturbance. 
 
 
PENDING MATTERS 
--------------- 
 
¶16. (SBU) OSOC continues to work with Italian counterparts on 
the investigation of the theft of a TOROC vehicle pass. 
 
 
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 
------------------------------- 
 
¶17. (U) As of 02/20/2006, Italian media continues to focus on 
domestic political issues, particularly the ongoing cartoon 
controversy, the resignation of Italian Reform Minister 
Calderoli, and the next steps to be taken by his Northern 
League party, which holds several key positions in the 
Italian Government.  Italian daily Il Giornale circulated a 
story based on Northern League extremist paper Padania,s 
front page photos of Calderoli,s cartoon t-shirts.  Other 
dailies noted upcoming European Union (EU) Justice and 
Interior Ministerial meetings that will likely focus on the 
cartoon issue, as well as the start of Council of Europe 
hearings on alleged CIA secret prisons and renditions in 
Europe.  The combination of the EU/COE meetings and Italian 
domestic politics ensures that the cartoon issue and related 
protests worldwide will continue to be front-page stories in 
Italy. 
 
¶18. (U) Coverage of the Olympics and security-related matters 
remains generally positive. Italian gold medalists are 
front-page news in most papers.  Italian media has commented 
that the attention of "No TAV" protesters has recently turned 
to the construction of another high-speed rail line outside 
of the Turin area, which may cause further decrease in the 
amount of disruption activity at the Olympics.  As noted in 
REFTEL, stories on doping by Olympic athletes continues to 
receive coverage, with television news picking up on the 
story of an Austrian banned coach being detained over the 
weekend on doping charges. 
 
¶19. (U) Major business/economic news daily Il Sole/24 Ore 
reported on the economics and technology for the Olympics, in 
an article titled "The Electronic Eyes on the Games."  The 
article refers to a TOROC ops center monitoring technological 
controls, including Kodak-produced security badges and 
credentials.  The article provides details on expenditures, 
reporting that the GOI is spending 90 million Euros for 
security, compared to 310 million dollars spent by USG in 
Salt Lake City.  The article reports 9000 additional security 
personnel brought to Turin for the Games, and such additional 
security measures as a NATO AWACS monitoring skies above the 
region. 
 
¶20.  (U) PA Olympics office continues to attend relevant 
press briefings, to handle media inquiries and to plan media 
coverage of the White House Delegation to the Closing 
Ceremonies.  USOC-based PA staff is supporting U.S. athlete 
press conferences, possible participation in U.S. speaker 
programs, and facilitating interaction with Italian media, to 
include translating and disseminating U.S. team information. 
The Public Affairs Office in Turin may be reached at 
39-011-55-99-368. 
 
 
CONSULAR AFFAIRS 
---------------- 
 
¶21. (U) On 02/19/2006, CA received four requests from 
American citizens for emergency services.  Two Amcits applied 
for replacements to lost passports; one of these individuals 
was referred to Consulate General Milan due to his imminent 
travel plans.  The Consular Office also accepted the passport 
renewal application of an Amcit whose passport had expired; 
he will be traveling to the U.S. after the Olympics. 
 
¶22. (SBU) CA received reports of two more Amcits sanctioned 
for selling Olympic tickets without proper license.  The 
Amcits visited the Consular Office in Turin to obtain a list 
of English-speaking attorneys and indicated that they wish to 
appeal the sanction. 
 
¶23. (SBU) On the evening of 02/19/2006, the Consular Office 
in Turin worked with the consular duty officer in Milan to 
assist an elderly Amcit,s return to Turin from a mountain 
Olympic venue.  The Amcit had been hospitalized for 
hypothermia. 
 
¶24. (U) The Consular Office may be contacted at the following 
numbers: 011-5599-330 (tel.); 011-5599-551 (fax).  Additional 
information may be found at http://milan.usconsulate.gov. 
 
SPOGLI