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 06 ROME 000429 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SENSITIVE 
 
PASS TO TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (TSA) AND 
GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO); DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR S/S-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) #7, 02/13/2006 
 
REF: ROME 407 
 
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 02/09/2006. 
 
¶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); National 
Information Center for the Winter Olympics (CINO); Turin 
Olympics Committee (TOROC); 
International Olympics Committee (IOC); US Olympic Committee 
(USOC); Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Public 
Affairs/Public 
Diplomacy (PA/PD); Consular Affairs (CA). 
 
 
KEY EVENTS 
---------- 
 
¶4. (U)  The first weekend of Olympic sporting events occurred 
on 02/11/2006 and 02/12/2006 without disruption.  Large 
crowds continue to flock to downtown Turin to attend the 
nightly medals ceremonies and concerts, spectators have 
remained orderly, and security remains visible at all public 
venues.  While heightened awareness by security forces 
continues, USOC personnel observe some problems with access 
control and transportation at certain Olympics venues. 
Italian authorities remain focused on opposition group events 
planned for the weekend of 02/17/2006-02/19/2006. 
 
 
SECURITY 
-------- 
 
¶5. (U) Terrorist Activity: No activity has been identified. 
Italian officials remain alert for indications of terrorist 
operations and additional OSOC personnel are available for 
immediate recall to supplement existing 24/7 JOC and TIC 
staff, should an Olympics-related incident occur. 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) Threats: There is still no indication that terrorist 
organizations intend to target the Olympic Games.  Italian 
law enforcement authorities remain on high alert for 
suspicious activity throughout Italy, despite the lack of 
specific, credible terrorist threat.  The actions of groups 
opposed to the Olympics and the TAV (high-speed train) 
continue to be a concern, and Italian security forces are 
working with their international counterparts to diminish the 
potential for disruption of the Games in coming week. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Demonstrations/Protests: USOC personnel and Italian 
authorities remain concerned about and focused on 
anti-globalization protestors, radical left-wing youth, and 
anarchist groups who may attempt to capitalize on Olympics 
media coverage to advertise their causes.  Specifically, 
Italian officials are focused on possibility of activists 
converging in Turin between 02/17/2006-02/19/2006 to organize 
demonstrations during the three-day symposium being held by 
mountain village mayors and opponents of the TAV high-speed 
rail line.  Press reports large numbers of activists coming 
to demonstrate in coming week.  The OSOC liaison to the 
Italian (multi-)National Center for the Winter Olympics 
(CINO) reports that European Union authorities can not/not 
confirm that multi-national activists are planning to arrive 
in Turin in coming days. A schedule of the symposium events 
has been published in the Italian Communist daily Il 
Manifesto, as well as on the website www.NOTAV.it. OSOC 
personnel will continue to monitor activist websites for 
further information on the symposium and any planned protests 
or disruptions.  In addition, OSOC liaison with CINO 
continues to monitor European law enforcement tracking of 
possible travel to Turin area for purposes of disrupting 
Olympics activities.  The combination of logistical problems 
in transportation from mountain venues and the 
no-global/anarchist focus on the mountains for their 
gatherings heightens USG and Italian/TOROC attention. 
 
¶8. (S/NF)  In conjunction with their concerns for the 
potential for demonstrations linked to the planned symposium, 
Italian security officials are worried that some radical 
activist elements may seize the opportunity to target for 
disruption critical infrastructure, such as electric lines, 
telephone lines, and transportation.  In response, police 
have increased observation of people passing through rail 
stations and airports. For additional information regarding 
Italians fears about possible targeting of infrastructure, 
please see TD-314/08114-06, dated 02/03/2006.  OSOC continues 
to work with Italian counterparts to obtain additional 
information on any disruptive activity planned to coincide 
with the Olympics and particularly during the 
02/17/2006-02/19/2006 timeframe. 
 
¶9. (U) According to TOROC, the  No Olimpiadi, activist 
group announced a series of peaceful demonstrations scheduled 
to occur until the end of the Olympic Games.  The group will 
reportedly hand out  No Olimpiadi, flyers near points of 
interest in Turin.  Law enforcement agencies are closely 
monitoring the situation, and are prepared to prevent any 
disorder that may interfere with the sporting competition 
schedule. 
¶10. (SBU) Incidents: In a follow-up to previously reported 
information on an illegal attempt to gain access to Italian 
law enforcement computer systems, the OSOC representative to 
the Italian National Olympics Information Sharing Center 
reported that authorities have identified the alleged hacker. 
 The individual is reportedly a contract TOROC employee who 
was attempting to gain access to the TOROC Information 
Management system, rather than the Law Enforcement Management 
system as previously reported. The Italian Ministry of 
Interior stated that the TOROC system is not classified and 
does not contain law enforcement or sensitive security 
information.  However, Italian officials remain concerned and 
will continue their investigation in order to ascertain the 
individual,s intentions. 
 
 
SECURITY OPERATIONS 
------------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU)  USG security activities -- ongoing liaison with 
host-government entities, Olympics security officials, US 
corporate security and the USSS security detail -- 
continue. 
 
¶12. (SBU)  Italian authorities notified the TSA 
representative located at the Turin Airport that they stopped 
two suspicious individuals attempting to pick up a package 
showing Arabic writing on the box.  Subsequent action 
revealed that the box was full of pamphlets; an Italian 
investigation into the incident is ongoing and OSOC is 
assisting Italian counterparts and TSA by running name checks 
on the individuals. 
 
¶13. (SBU)  In an update to Italian law enforcement activity 
described in previous sitrep, Italian authorities located the 
No-TAV protester who was accredited to the mountain venue 
site of the biathlon. The individual,s credentials were 
revoked but later reissued at the order of the venue manager. 
 TOROC protested the reissue and requested that TOROC,s 
Management Operations Center reverse the decision, though it 
is unlikely that the subject,s credentials will be revoked 
for a second time.  OSOC personnel have noted that in the 
absence of specific derogatory information, it is likely 
difficult for TOROC to withdraw credentials once they have 
been issued.  OSOC will continue to work through liaison 
channels at CINO in order to ascertain whether Italian 
authorities have identified the individual in question as a 
definite security risk and whether an investigation into his 
activities is ongoing. 
 
¶14. (SBU)  Anecdotal evidence from OSOC personnel at various 
Olympic venues indicates that there continues to be problems 
with transportation and access control.  OSOC elements in 
mountain venues reported that a chaotic transportation system 
left crowds of spectators waiting several hours to board 
buses for return to Turin.  Coupled with the fact that 
activists will be holding a symposium near these venues in 
upcoming days, OSOC believes that there is a high potential 
for deliberate disruption of transportation routes into and 
out of the mountains.  OSOC will continue to work with 
Italian counterparts to determine how they intend to improve 
transportation control for the upcoming weekend. 
 
¶15. (SBU)  OSOC personnel attending the medals ceremony and 
concert at Piazza Castello on 02/12/2006 indicated that there 
continue to be residual problems with access control at that 
site.  According to the OSOC employees, a group of youths 
arrived late to the concert and attempted to enter the venue 
via the exit gate.  Police stopped the group and eventually 
moved them through the bystanding crowd to the proper entry 
point.  It should be noted that the entrances and exits to 
the secure portion of Piazza Castello are not well marked and 
there tends to be confusion among the large crowds of 
spectators as to how they are to gain entry to the site. 
 
 
VIPs 
---- 
 
¶16. (SBU)  Daughter Barbara Bush remains in Turin on private 
travel, with an expected departure date of 02/15/2006.  On 
02/13/2006, she will attend morning Olympic events in the 
mountain venues and will return to Turin in the afternoon to 
attend additional competitions.  Thus far, there has been no 
attempt by activist groups to target or hinder the movements 
of Miss Bush and no press coverage regarding her visit has 
been noted.  The Public Affairs Office in Turin has requested 
that the White House provide press guidance should we be 
contacted by the media regarding her visit. 
 
¶17. (SBU)  A number of international VIPs remain in Turin. 
Due to their presence, occasional street closures, security 
checks and elevated police presence are expected to remain in 
place throughout the duration of the Games. 
 
 
PENDING MATTERS 
--------------- 
 
¶18. (U) The theft of a TOROC vehicle pass remains unresolved. 
 OSOC remains concerned that a vehicle pass would allow 
individuals of concern to approach large numbers of 
spectators, despite Italian law enforcement claims that 
additional screening sites would prevent this.  Underscoring 
this concern, Italian daily La Repubblica reported that on 
02/12/2006, a tour bus at the Men,s Downhill Skiing venue 
inadvertently deviated from normal security procedures and 
discharged its passengers at the entrance to the venue. 
(Spectators are normally dropped off at a distance from the 
venue and then must walk to the entrance.)  This caused 
gridlock at the entrance and disrupted the efforts of 
security forces as they attempted to move the vehicle.  It is 
unclear how the bus was able to approach the front of the 
venue without being stopped by security forces.  OSOC 
continues to interact with Italian counterparts regarding 
security concerns related to the missing pass. 
 
 
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 
------------------------------- 
 
¶19. (U) Italian media continue to focus heavily on Olympics 
coverage, domestic politics and the general election 
campaign, and the discovery of Avian Flu in Italy. 
Indicating current Italian priorities, features on medals 
ceremonies are taking precedence on the front page over 
stories on domestic politics.  Stories with security-related 
themes continue to be popular and a number of newspapers are 
now also commenting extensively on the activities and 
performances of US athletes.  The following is a summary 
compiled from local media: 
 
¶20. (U)  Security Concerns:  On 02/12/2006, Communist daily 
Il Manifesto noted that the authors of the  Olympics 2006 
Black Book, will present a copy of the text to the 
University of Turin library.  The book focuses on the 
relationship between military/industrial corporation 
Finmeccanica and General Electrics (GE); it also states that 
GE controls NBC, the US media network responsible for 
Olympics coverage.  OSOC and OSAC continue to work with US 
corporate sponsors such as GE and NBC to counter any possible 
protest attempts that may arise from the publicity 
surrounding the Olympics Black Book. 
 
¶21. (U)  Influential daily La Stampa published a satiric look 
at Olympic security procedures, noting that the Ministry of 
Interior is now contending with questions as to why the level 
of security appears to exceed the known threat to the Games. 
Poking fun at a previously reported incident in which an 
American with a bag of camera batteries sparked a security 
response, the paper advises anyone wanting to attract the 
attention of law enforcement authorities to park their 
vehicle around Olympic sites with bags of batteries or Arabic 
newspapers in the back seat. 
 
¶22. (U)  Left-leaning La Repubblica contained two articles on 
the increased security in place for the Olympics, noting that 
the necessity of queuing up at magnetometers has created long 
lines and incovenience at checkpoints.  It also highlighted 
transportation problems in the mountain venues, including the 
incident involving the bus noted in this sitrep.  The second 
article commented on the arrest of 12 individuals for minor 
crimes, including the detention of a Palestinian who 
illegally entered the country. 
 
¶23. (U)  Of possible concern for US and Italian security 
officials, Il Giornale reported that a US website 
(shopmetrospy.com) is now selling t-shirts featuring the 
controversial Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad. 
 
¶24. (U)  US Olympic Team:  A number of daily papers contained 
generally positive coverage of the performances of the US 
Olympic Team.  La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere della Sera, 
La Repubblica and La Stampa all reported on the success of 
halfpipe gold medalist Shaun White.  La Repubblica commented 
on men,s downhill skier Bode Miller,s fifth place finish, 
while La Stampa covered Michelle Kwan,s withdrawal from the 
skating competition. 
¶25. (U) PA continues to work with USOC and others to schedule 
interviews with US athletes for the Italian press.  The 
Public Affairs Office in Turin may be reached at 
39-011-55-99-368. 
 
 
CONSULAR AFFAIRS 
---------------- 
 
¶26. (U)  The Consular Office in Turin received two requests 
for service from American citizens on 02/12/2006.  The first 
incident involved a member of a corporate sponsor group, 
whose passport was stolen while he was riding on a tram. 
 
¶27. (U)  The other case was a welfare/whereabouts query from 
the parent of an American citizen who failed to arrive at a 
Turin youth hostel.  Consular coordination with Consulate 
General Milan and airport police at Bergamo airport revealed 
that the individual in question had returned to his study 
program in London.  The parent was informed and the case was 
closed. 
 
¶28. (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