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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ROME 000568 
 
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 OLYMPICS
SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT 
(SITREP) #18, 02/24/2006 
 
REF: ROME 558 
 
¶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 EVENTS 
---------- 
 
¶4. (U)  Olympic events took place without disruption on 
02/23/2006. 
 
¶5. (SBU)  The White House Delegation to the Closing 
Ceremonies is scheduled to arrive in Turin Friday evening. 
Host government, TOROC, and USG security officials are 
reviewing operations and re-energizing all components to 
ensure that the highest appropriate security measures are in 
place around Olympic venues and related sites during the 
upcoming weekend.  In light of the visits of U.S. and Italian 
VIPs, the Closing Ceremonies, and large crowds participating 
in the "White Night" celebration planned for downtown Turin 
on 02/25/2006, Italian authorities remain focused on 
detecting and deterring activity that could disrupt the 
closing of the Games. 
 
 
SECURITY 
-------- 
 
Terrorist Activity/Threats: 
 
¶6. (SBU)  There is no indication that terrorist organizations 
intend to target the Olympic Games.  Italian authorities 
continue to monitor the Islamic community in Italy for 
indications of terrorist activity or unrest stemming from the 
cartoon/t-shirt controversy. 
Demonstrations/Protests: 
 
¶7. (U) A small, peaceful demonstration took place on 
2/23/2006 in front of the Russian Team Store, which is 
adjacent to the OSOC office.  The demonstrators, who had a 
permit, were protesting Russia,s policy on Chechnya.  Police 
presence was adequate to deter disruption of the store,s 
operations or interfere with passers-by. 
 
¶8. (U) Two "No TAV" events are scheduled for the upcoming 
weekend.  On 02/24/2006, a "No TAV" meeting, featuring an 
anti-TAV video, will be held in the mountains near Turin.  On 
02/25/2006, activists in Turin will screen a separate 
anti-TAV movie.  Protests are not expected to occur in 
conjunction with either event and no disruption of Olympic 
events is anticipated. 
 
¶9. (U) On 02/22/2006, Tibetan protesters stormed the Chinese 
Embassy in Rome.  The Rome demonstration was held in 
conjunction with an ongoing hunger strike by members of the 
Turin Tibetan community who are protesting the 2008 Summer 
Olympics in Beijing. 
 
 
Incidents: 
 
¶10. (SBU) On 2/23/2006, Italian police responded quickly and 
effectively to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the 
vicinity of the Multimedia Center at the Oval Lingotto 
complex (the speed skating venue).  The vehicle, which bore 
Spanish license plates, had been left running and locked. 
Two occupants had exited the car and had briefly left the 
area.  Authorities cordoned off the area and an Italian 
Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team forced entry into the 
vehicle.  Investigation by the EOD unit determined the 
vehicle was not a threat.  The owners of the vehicle were 
later identified as Spanish journalists. 
 
SECURITY OPERATIONS 
------------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) OSOC continues to coordinate with Italian 
authorities and U.S. Olympic sponsors to identify and deter 
disruptive activity in the final days of the Olympics.  There 
is a final security briefing for U.S. Olympic sponsors and 
businesses on 02/24/2006.  OSOC remains focused on providing 
security assistance to U.S. VIP delegations visiting Turin 
for the Closing Ceremonies.  OSOC is also working with USOC 
and Italian law enforcement to address security measures for 
the upcoming Paralympics. 
 
 
VIPs 
---- 
 
¶12. (SBU)  The White House Delegation to the Closing 
Ceremonies is scheduled to arrive in Turin this evening. 
They will be joined by the U.S. Ambassador to Italy, who will 
arrive in Turin on 02/25/2006.  The delegation,s current 
schedule contains a full range of activities on 02/25/2006, 
including public and press appearances, an MOI security 
briefing, attendance at a USG-hosted reception, and 
attendance at the Closing Ceremonies on 02/26/2006.  On 
behalf of the delegation, Former New York Mayor Rudolph 
Giuliani will be the honorary chairperson of the CNIO 
security briefing on 02/25/2006.  The delegation is scheduled 
to depart Turin immediately following the Closing Ceremonies 
on 02/26/2006.  There is no indication that activist groups 
intend to disrupt the delegation,s visit.  OSOC continues to 
coordinate with Italian authorities to identify planned 
activist events that may disrupt the delegation,s movements 
during their stay. 
 
 
PENDING MATTERS 
--------------- 
 
¶13. (SBU) OSOC continues to work with Italian counterparts on 
the investigation of the theft of a TOROC vehicle pass.  OSOC 
has confirmed that Italian law enforcement is conducting 
secondary access checks at the entrance to Olympic venues. 
OSOC assesses these checks as being adequate to prevent 
hostile elements from using the stolen vehicle pass to 
closely approach Olympic sites. 
 
 
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 
------------------------------- 
 
¶14. (U)  On 02/24/2006, Olympic security news received 
prominent coverage in national papers, as Italian news 
reported on the suspicious vehicle incident near the Lingotto 
venue (see paragraph 10).  La Stampa carried feature coverage 
of the alleged car bomb threat, to include photos.  Not all 
of the details of the incident were accurately portrayed by 
the press, and prominence of the story was probably 
attributable to the lack of other security news.  The 
incident took place at a media center, which also helped to 
focus press attention on the event. 
 
¶15. (U)  Domestic politics and the fall-out from possible 
Italian connections to the Abu Ghraib scandal remain key 
components of Italian media reporting.  ANSA wire service 
carried Prime Minister Berlusconi,s interview with 
al-Jazeera, in which he called for the closing of Guantanamo 
Bay.  Communist daily Il Manifesto contained additional 
interviews with the former Iraqi prisoner who had allegedly 
been abused by Italian nationals in Iraq.  The testimony of 
an Italian prosecutor at the Council of Europe hearings on 
renditions was noted in several dailies; the official 
testified that the Italian Minister of Justice had not 
adequately supported the request to seek prosecution of USG 
employees for the alleged rendition. 
¶16. (U)  General Olympics coverage continues to focus on 
straightforward reporting of sporting events.  A small 
article in La Stampa recycles a story from the New York Times 
on  the disappointment of advertisers about the supposed lack 
of American Olympics heroes from the Turin Games. 
 
¶17. (U) PA continues media outreach efforts.  Specifically, 
PA has planned press and television coverage, including an 
NBC Today Show interview with Rudolph Giuliani, for the White 
House Delegation to the Closing Ceremonies. PA press efforts 
are in direct media competition with the final ski runs of 
Bode Miller and local favorite Giorgio Rocca in the mountain 
venues; press coverage of these events will be heavy.  PA is 
in touch with the publicity agents of U.S. Olympians Chris 
Witty and Joey Cheek to discuss potential Mission Italy 
speaker programs after the Games.  Though PA is in 
competition with paying advertisers and other athlete 
speaking opportunities to shedule these appearances, they 
remain optimistic that at least one speaker will participate. 
 On 02/23/2006, PA facilitated a La Stampa English edition 
interview with two U.S. Paralympian skiers.  The article will 
appear soon.  On 02/24/2006, PA facilitated interviews for 
the same Paralympians on NBC's Today Show.  Other media 
opportunities for U.S. Paralympic athletes are being explored 
for the month of March. 
 
¶18. (U) The Public Affairs Office in Turin may be reached at 
39-011-55-99-368. 
 
 
CONSULAR AFFAIRS 
---------------- 
 
¶19. (U) On 02/23/2006, CA received five requests for American 
citizens services.  Three American citizens (Amcits) applied 
for emergency passports and two individuals picked up 
passports that were produced by the Consulate General in 
Milan.  A lost/stolen passport was recovered by police and 
provided to CA; they are attempting to contact the owner. 
Another Amcit called to request the location of the nearest 
American Express office. 
 
¶20. (U) In follow-up to information reported in REFTEL, CA 
learned that a U.S. Olympics coach received a 1,032 Euro fine 
for selling Olympic tickets without proper TOROC license.  On 
02/23/2006, CA also learned of two additional administrative 
actions against Amcits illegally selling Olympic event 
tickets. 
 
¶21. (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