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 000558 
 
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) #17, 02/23/2006 
 
REF: ROME 543 
 
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 disruption on 
02/22/2006. 
 
¶5. (SBU)  As the end of the 2006 Winter Olympics draws near, 
while remaining focused and in liaison with Italian 
authorities on security for the high-profile final weekend 
and Closing Ceremonies for the Olympics, OSOC has commenced 
coordination of security efforts for the upcoming 
Paralympics.  The Paralympics will have a very reduced U.S. 
presence from the Olympics, and security, consular, PA 
support will be adjusted appropriately.  The White House is 
expected to name a delegation to attend the Opening 
Ceremonies of the Paralympics on 03/10/2006. 
 
 
SECURITY 
-------- 
 
Terrorist Activity/Threats: 
 
¶6. (S/NF)  There is no new information to suggest a specific, 
credible threat to the Olympic Games.  Italian authorities 
remain alert for indications that terrorist organizations or 
activist groups intend to disrupt the final days of the 
Olympics.  There has been no update on previously reported 
potential terrorist activity elsewhere in Italy. 
¶7. (SBU) On 02/22/2006, USOC reported to OSOC that a member 
of the U.S. curling team had received threatening e-mails on 
her personal e-mail account.  The athlete reportedly deleted 
the e-mails after reading them.  OSOC will work with USOC to 
obtain additional information about the e-mail threats. 
 
Demonstrations/Protests: 
 
¶8. (U)  On 02/22/2006, environmental activist group "Lega 
Ambiente" conducted a peaceful protest near the (non-Olympics 
accredited) Piedmonte Media Center.  The demonstration 
focused on environment issues and the "No TAV" agenda.  No 
disruption of Olympic events was reported. 
 
¶9. (U)  On 02/25/2006, a "No TAV" festival will be held in 
the mountains near Turin.  The event will commence with a 
conference discussing the "No TAV" movement and will end with 
various entertainment activities.  The festival is not 
expected to disrupt Olympic operations in the mountain venues. 
 
¶10. (U)  On 02/21/2006, the Independent Media Center 
(Indymedia.org) posted two anti-Olympics flyers depicting a 
wounded Iraqi child and the logos of U.S. Olympic sponsors. 
According to the posting, activists are encouraging agitators 
to hand out anti-Olympics and anti-sponsor flyers.  OSOC and 
Italian authorities continue to monitor the activist 
community and websites to identify organized calls for action 
against Olympic venues or sponsors. 
 
Incidents: 
 
¶11. (SBU) On 02/22/2006, OSOC learned that Italian police had 
responded to a report of a suspicious suitcase inside a 
vehicle parked near the Bank of America hospitality house. 
Police cordoned off the area and Explosives Ordnance Disposal 
(EOD) personnel searched the suitcase.  The suitcase was 
found to contain clothing.  No other suspicious items were 
discovered. OSOC continues to work with the MOI to focus on 
implications of the number of suspicious package incidents 
reported near sponsor sites and public areas. 
 
¶12. (SBU)  OSOC field agents reported on 02/22/2006 that a 
U.S. Olympics coach had been fined by Italian authorities for 
selling Olympic tickets without a proper license.  The coach 
had apparently received a warning from police on 02/21/2006 
about his activity.  MOI officials have commented to OSOC 
CNIO liaison that the majority of fines issued for ticket 
scalping have been given to American citizens (Amcits).  CA 
will follow up through OSOC CNIO liaison to obtain additional 
information on regulations about illegal ticket selling. 
 
 
SECURITY OPERATIONS 
------------------- 
¶13. (SBU)  OSOC learned through the MOI that NBC officials 
expressed concern over the proximity to the NBC studio of an 
Italian Fire Brigade CBRN monitoring exercise on 02/21/2006. 
Italian authorities advised NBC that the monitoring was 
routine activity conducted by security forces at selected 
venues.  The NBC Studio is located at Piazza San Carlo, near 
the site of the Today Show broadcasts. 
¶14. (S/NF)  OSOC continues to monitor the status of a 
Tunisian national arrested by Italian authorities in Milan. 
After obtaining the name of the individual, OSOC conducted 
namechecks on the subject, with negative results.  The 
results of these checks will be shared with Italian 
intelligence agency liaison. 
 
 
VIPs 
---- 
 
¶15. (SBU)  The White House Delegation to the Closing 
Ceremonies is expected to arrive in Turin on 02/24/2006. 
They will have a full schedule of press events and viewing of 
Olympics competitions on 02/25/2006 and 02/26/2006, 
culminating in their attendance at the Closing Ceremonies. 
They will depart Turin immediately following the end of the 
ceremonies. 
 
¶16. (SBU) TSA representatives in Turin continue to work 
closely with Italian and USG officials to facilitate the 
arrival and departure of U.S. VIPs.  OSOC remains engaged 
with Italian authorities to provide security assistance 
during the WH delegation,s visit. 
 
 
PENDING MATTERS 
--------------- 
 
¶17. (SBU) OSOC continues to work with Italian counterparts on 
the investigation of the theft of a TOROC vehicle pass.  OSOC 
drivers will report on the access controls they encounter 
when using a vehicle pass to enter an Olympic venue, 
particularly in light of the possibility that a vehicle pass 
would allow hostile elements to approach large numbers of 
spectators and/or athletes. 
 
 
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 
------------------------------- 
 
¶18. (U)  On 02/23/2006, the intense Italian media focus on 
domestic political issues overshadowed coverage of Olympic 
events and security-related news.  The front pages of major 
papers continue to carry photos of Italian Olympics 
medalists. 
 
¶19. (U)  Receiving front-page coverage in La Stampa and 
several other papers was the RAI News 24 story alleging that 
Italians took part in prisoner interrogations at Abu Ghraib 
prison. The Government of Italy categorically denied official 
Italian involvement in the scandal and stated that it is not 
aware of other Italian nationals being involved.  Though 
there was no U.S.-related angle to the story, La Stampa 
reprinted photos depicting the abuse of Abu Ghraib prisoners 
to emphasize the possible Italian connection to the scandal. 
¶20. (U) Also gaining attention was the White House 
announcement of Prime Minister Berlusconi,s upcoming visit 
to the U.S., including his scheduled meeting with President 
Bush on 02/28/2006 and his planned speech to a joint session 
of Congress. 
 
¶21. (U)  AP reports on the Austrian Olympics doping 
allegations, including: results from the athletes' blood 
tests are still pending and that the scandal could hurt 
Austria's bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympics.  The IOC has 
formed a special commission to investigate the doping 
allegations. 
 
¶22. (U)  In separate Olympics reporting, USA Today noted the 
decrease in activist protests and commented that Italian 
officials have moved "No TAV" and environmental protesters 
out of sight to avoid negative publicity for the Olympics. 
 
¶23.  (U)  The LATimes, bylined by the Rome bureau chief, 
quotes a USG PA official on burglaries in Turin hotels.  (The 
burglaries and OSOC liaison with Italian authorities and U.S. 
sponsors has been previously reported in sitreps.)  PA notes 
that the LATimes report paraphrases the PA statements in a 
misleading way; in response to the question whether all of 
the victims were Amcits, the PA representative responded that 
the victims were of diverse nationalities.  The reporter said 
that she had other sources indicating that some Americans had 
been victims.  OSOC information on the burglaries indicates 
that there have been no Amcit victims of the crimes. 
 
¶24. (U) The PA strategy of placing personnel with USOC's 
press operation has paid off with the placement in Italian 
media of several articles on U.S. athletes.  As an example, 
wire service ANSA carried a positive interview with Dr. Eric 
Heiden, a member of the White House Delegation to the Opening 
Ceremonies.  PA is currently in contact with representatives 
of U.S. speed skater Chris Witty to plan an Italy-wide 
speaking program following the Games. 
 
¶25. (U) In preparation for the Paralympics, PA has 
coordinated with USOC to schedule interviews with La Stampa 
for two U.S. Paralympians.  Other media opportunities for 
Paralympic athletes are being explored.   PA also continues 
to plan press and television coverage at multiple sites for 
the White House Delegation to the Closing Ceremonies. The 
Public Affairs Office in Turin may be reached at 
39-011-55-99-368. 
 
CONSULAR AFFAIRS 
---------------- 
¶26. (U)  On 02/22/2006, CA received a request for passport 
assistance from an Amcit whose travel documents had been lost 
in Turin.  In response to previous requests for assistance, 
eight passports were produced by Consulate General Milan and 
returned to Turin for distribution. 
 
¶27. (U)  As reported in REFTEL, CA followed up on the 
hospitalization of a U.S. Olympics coach by passing CA 
contact information to the hospital where the coach was 
staying.  In a later conversation with hospital staff, CA 
learned that the coach had been released earlier that day. 
The coach will return to the hospital on 02/23/2006 for a 
check-up. 
 
¶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