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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 000849 
 
SIPDIS 
 
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: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER PARALYMPIC GAMES
SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT 
(SITREP) #8, 03/17/2006 
 
REF: ROME 00827 
 
¶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); European high-speed train project that 
is controversial in mountain towns near Olympics sites 
(TAV - Italian acronym); the Transportation Security 
Administration (TSA); Public Affairs/Public Diplomacy 
(PA/PD); Consular Affairs (CA); and the Italian 
Ministry of Interior (MOI). 
 
 
 
 
KEY POINTS 
----------------- 
 
¶4. (U) The Turin Paralympics continue to draw capacity 
crowds minimal but very positive press attention,and no 
disturbances.To illustrate the local enthusiasm,the Gold 
Medal match for wheelchair Curling is sold out 
(Italy is not/not playing).The US Sled Hockey Team's lost 
on March 16 to Norway 4-2, so is no longer eligible for 
the Gold.The U.S. will move to the bronze medal match on 
Saturday, March 18.The Closing Ceremonies of the 2006 
Winter Paralympics is scheduled to take place Sunday, 
March 19.It will be held in the Piazza Castello, one of 
Turin's most prestigious historical and architectural 
areas. During the Olympics, Piazza Castello was the site 
of the medals ceremonies.The Presidential Delegation to 
the opening ceremonies of the Paralympics attended a 
concert in the Piazza to the largest recorded crowd ever 
in that piazza.Italian authorities and the Olympics 
Security Coordination office are focused on Olympic 
security throughout the weekend to ensure a successful 
end to the Paralympics.There were no requests for 
Consular services on March 16. 
SECURITY ISSUES 
------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U)Terrorist Activity:No activity has been identified. 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) Threats: There is no credible, specific 
information that terrorists intend to target the 
Paralympics.Italian law enforcement and security officials 
remain attentive to the possibility of attacks timed to 
affect the national elections scheduled for April 9; 
there is no specific information related to Turin. 
 
¶7. (U) Demonstrations: The OSC is not aware of any 
scheduled protests or plans to disrupt the Paralympics. 
Italian authorities remain on heightened alert throughout 
Turin to ensure the safety of spectators, athletes,and 
VIPs attending the Games.  Elsewhere in Italy there are 
demonstrations planned for March 17-19:against the war 
in Iraq (in Rome); anarchistdemonstrations are planned in 
Milan. On March 16,a pro-merchant demonstration in Milan 
as a protest against violence the previous weekend was 
held without incident. 
 
 
 
8.(U) The USG interagency OSC, JOC, and TIC operates 
seven days a week from 0800 to 1700 hours. The hours of 
operation are extended for night events. 
 
 
 
 
PUBLIC AFFAIRS 
------------------------ 
 
9.(U) March 17 edition of Turin-based national newspaper 
La Stampa carried an article entitled,"The Big Heart of 
Turin," with the subheading, "Paralympics Record 
Success." The article notes the strong public response to 
the Paralympic Games, the strong ticket sales, and the 
20,000 volunteers during both the Olympics andParalympics. 
The article states all this disproves the stereotype of 
Turin as having gray architecture and people who are 
"cold, detached, and introverted."As an example, the 
correspondent points to the March 16 sled hockey game 
between Italy and the UK. He notes that in prior sled 
hockey games, Italy had not scored any goals,while its 
opponents scored 24 points. Nevertheless, Italian fans 
have remained upbeat and supportive of their team. 
When the Italian team scored a goal (its first) in 
yesterday's game, the stadium "completely erupted." 
The article ends with the correspondent paraphrasing 
the Olympic theme,"Passion certainly lives in Turin." 
 
 
¶10. (U) As a follow-up to previous articles on ways to 
strengthen the Paralympic training program in Italy, and 
use the Turin Games as a "shot in the arm," La Stampa 
carried an article March 17, that discussed collaboration 
between the President of the Italian Paralympic Committee 
Luca Pancalli, and Gianni Petrucci, President of the 
Olympic Committee. Both men are looking at reforming 
Italian legislation to provide more government support to 
Paralympic athletes. They are also talking with the 
Australians whom they believe have a good model of public- 
private support for Paralympic athletes in Australia. 
The article also reported on an impending "agreement with 
the Italian military corps to provide support to the 
Italian Paralympic program" PA will provide information 
to the Italian Paralympic Committee about U.S. efforts at 
building grass roots support, including the Paralympic 
Academy and organizations represented by members of the 
Presidential Delegation to the Paralympics. 
 
 
¶11. (U) The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is 
currently screening worldwide coverage of all sports of 
the Paralympic Winter Games on the internet television 
channel, www.paralympicsport.tv.  To-date, over 23,000 
viewers from more than 90 countries have tuned in online 
to watch live and delayed coverage of the 2006 Winter 
Paralympic Games.The top five viewing countries are the 
US, Italy, Canada, Germany, and Japan." 
 
 
¶12. (U) US Facts from the Paralympics 
 
 
A.Sled hockey player Timothy Jones (Mt. Ephraim, NJ) is 
the first African-American on the US team and Ralph Green 
(Vail, Colorado/Brooklyn, NY) is the first African- 
American male to make the US Paralympic Alpine Ski Team. 
Ralph Greenwas interviewed by NBC Today show from Turin 
prior to the opening of the Paralympics, through 
facilitation by PA, as was two-time Gold Medalist in 
downhill skiing Laurie Stephens. 
 
 
¶B. There are four US athletes who were born abroad. They 
are Nordic Skier Chris Klebl (Germany), wheelchair curler 
Gustavo Perez (Spain), sled hockey player Alexi Salamone 
(Ukraine) and alpine skier Elitsa Storey (Bulgaria). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSULAR AFFAIRS 
------------------------------ 
 
 
¶13. (U) Consular Section Turin had no action for Thursday, 
March 16. 
 
¶14. (U) The Consular Office for the duration of the 
Paralympics is co-located with in the same building as the 
OSC and Olympics Coordination Office in Turin. Four staff 
members and one consular officer comprise the Consular 
Section. The office is  open from 0900 to 1800 hours. 
The office provides emergency services for US citizens and 
has established an extensive network of contacts with 
hotels, hospitals, and local law enforcement officials. 
Contact information: Telephone number: 011-5599-330. 
FAX: 011-5599-551. Additional information may be found at 
HTTP://Milan.USConsulate.Gov. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SPOGLI