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

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 000377 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR S/S-O, S/CT, EUR, DS, AND CA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2007 
TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER OLYMPICS
SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS--USG SITUATION REPORT 
(SITREP) #2, 02/08/2006 
 
REF: ROME 361 
 
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 as of 02/08/2006. 
 
¶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: Olympic Security Coordination Office (OSC); Joint 
Operations Center (JOC); USG Threat Integration Center (TIC); 
Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC); First Lady of the 
United States (FLOTUS); Public Affairs/Public Diplomacy 
(PA/PD); Consular Affairs (CA). 
 
SECURITY ISSUES 
--------------- 
 
¶4. (U) Terrorist Activity: No activity has been identified. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Threats: The US Government is unaware of any 
specific, credible threat information directed against the 
Olympic Games in Turin, or in the primary Olympics mountain 
sites of Bardonecchia and Sestriere.  In addition, there is 
currently no information available to suggest a threat to 
FLOTUS and the Presidential Delegation scheduled to arrive on 
02/10/2006. 
 
¶6. (U)  Demonstrations/Protests: Local protesters continue to 
target Olympic-related activities and personnel, to include 
the Olympic Torch Run and US Olympic corporate sponsors; 
additional protests against Olympic activities are expected. 
According to the "Boycott Coca-Cola Network" (REBOC) website, 
the Communist Renewal Party is sponsoring two new protests 
against the Torch Run on 02/09/2006 at 1500 hours at Piazza 
Sabotino and on 02/10/2006 at 1400 hours at the University 
Club at Via San Ottavio.  OSAC has informed corporate 
security representatives of Coca-Cola, General Electric, and 
Kodak of these events.  The OSC will coordinate with the 
Italian Polizia di Stato (National Police) and DIGOS (General 
Investigations and Special Operations) for additional data 
regarding the protests.  OSC and OSAC remain in daily contact 
with Italian interlocutors regarding all known and developed 
threats against US corporate sponsors, to include the 
"netstrike" e-mail attack/protest against Coca Cola planned 
for 02/10/2006. 
 
 
SECURITY OPERATIONS 
------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU/NF)  USG security activities described in REFTEL 
(ongoing liaison with host government interagency law 
enforcement, military, and intelligence authorities, with 
Olympics organizing committee security officials, with U.S. 
corporate security and FLOTUS USSS lead responsible 
officials) continue. 
 
 
VIPs 
---- 
 
¶8. (SBU) FLOTUS and the Presidential Delegation are scheduled 
to arrive in Turin on 02/10/2006 for the Opening Ceremonies 
and depart on 02/12/2006.  Daughter Barbara Bush will remain 
in Turin on private travel until 2/15/2006.  News media 
continues to focus on the FLOTUS visit and a partially 
accurate itinerary is now in the public realm.  Inaccurate 
information regarding the FLOTUS security detail has also 
appeared in print. 
 
PENDING MATTERS 
--------------- 
 
¶9. (U) OSC continues to liaise with Italian counterparts to 
monitor and resolve concerns regarding potential threats to 
the Games and the period immediately prior to the Italian 
General Elections.  These sentiments are reflected in current 
and past media reports, as well as in exchanges with Italian 
authorities who have been on a heightened state of alert for 
the past several months. 
 
¶10. (U)  As noted in REFTEL, OSC continues to coordinate 
efforts with Italian authorities to investigate the reported 
theft of a vehicle containing a Turin Olympic Committee 
access pass. 
 
 
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 
------------------------------- 
 
¶11. (U)  The U.S. Public Affairs Office in Turin is currently 
staffed by four Americans and seven Italian employees. They 
may be reached at 39-011-55-99-368.  The U.S. office at the 
TorinoPiemonte (non-Olympics news focus) Media Center has 
opened and is currently staffed with two Italian employees; 
an American employee will arrive on 02/09/2006. 
 
¶12. (U) It is noteworthy that media coverage has focused more 
closely on the FLOTUS visit, protest activity, and the 
statements of public officials rather than on the Olympic 
Games themselves.  Both the media and Italian officials 
continue to note the absence of any specific threats against 
the Games. The following summary contains highlights from 
local media: 
 
¶13. (U) FLOTUS: Quotidiano Nazionale (QN) reported the date 
of arrival of FLOTUS in Italy, including an outline of her 
schedule for her Friday arrival in Turin.  QN also noted that 
Saturday (02/11/2006) could prove to be the most difficult 
day of her schedule in terms of security.  Il Messaggero 
carried an article titled "The Torch and the First Lady,s 
Visit Targeted by the Antagonists,s Movements." The US 
Public Affairs Office in Turin has contacted both print and 
wire media outlets to discourage any further publication of 
specific information regarding the FLOTUS itinerary. 
 
¶14. (U)  Security Concerns: Il Messaggero carried information 
on upcoming protests planned by Social Centers (anarchist 
groups), which intend to conduct disruptive actions 
throughout the Games.  These include a protest in Piazza 
Sabotino scheduled for 02/09/2006, a sit-in and a protest on 
02/10/2006 to mark the passage of the Olympic Torch and the 
Opening Ceremonies, and unspecified actions planned to 
coincide with the movements of FLOTUS on 02/11/2006.  Vatican 
Radio and La Stampa covered Interior Minister Pisanu,s 
statements that the actions of anti-high-speed-train (No TAV) 
and anti-globalization groups could pose a greater threat to 
the Games than the activities of Islamic terrorists. 
Minister of Interior Pisanu noted that while there are 
currently no specific terrorist threats against the Olympics, 
the possibility of an attack occurring could not be 
discounted, underscoring that Italian security forces 
remained on alert. 
 
¶15. (U) Public Statements: La Stampa carried the article 
"Ciampi: The Olympics - We Cannot Fail," covering the 
President's televised message exhorting the people of Italy 
to help ensure the success of the Games.  Ciampi's message 
implicitly referred to news of protests and encouraged 
instead positive activity by Italians in support of the 
Olympics.  Il Riformista printed statements by Mercedes 
Bresso, Governor of the Piedmont region, in which she praised 
Ciampi,s call for calm and a successful Games, while at the 
same time criticizing the government and leading opposition 
candidate Prodi,s handling of the issue of the high-speed 
train (TAV).  (Bresso is a member of the center-left 
opposition; most public statements by politicians are in the 
context of April general elections.  Ciampi is considered 
above politics, is popular, and his remarks are a call for 
unity for the significant national event of the Olympics.) 
 
 
CONSULAR AFFAIRS 
---------------- 
 
¶16. (U) CA hosted a representational event for Turin hospital 
directors in order to distribute consular information cards 
and brochures.  As of this filing, the Turin Consular Office 
has not received any requests for American citizen service. 
 
¶17. (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