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 000769 
 
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) #2, 03/11/2006 
 
REF: ROME 00000752 
 
¶1. (SBU) The following cable provides information on 
security, public 
diplomacy, and consular activities in Turin, Italy, for the 
2006 Winter 
Paralympic 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) Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and a crowd of 
30,000 attended 
the spectacular Opening Ceremony of the IX Paralympics 
featuring 48 athletes 
from 39 countries. During the ceremony, US. Secretary of 
Education Margaret 
Spelling, who is heading up the US Delegation met with 
President Ciampi at 
a reception he hosted prior to the Opening Ceremony. The DS 
agents assigned 
to the Opening Ceremony reported no untoward incidents. 
Organizers expect 
200,000 fans at the four venue sites during the Games. 
 
¶5. (U) Terrorist Activity: No activity has been identified. 
 
6.(SBU) Threats: There is no credible, specific information 
suggesting that 
terrorists intend to target the Paralympic Games. Italian 
authorities remain 
on high alert for suspicious activity throughout Italy 
despite the lack of 
of a known terrorist threat. 
 
¶7. (S/NF) Italian authorities are moderately concerned about 
the well-publicized 
general threat to Italy in the run-up to the April 9-10 2006 
Italian general 
elections. However, there was no actionable intelligence 
indicating that 
Islamic terrorists or other militants were planning an 
operation during that 
time frame. There is no indication that this threat will 
affect the Paralympics. 
 
¶8. (U) Demonstrations/Protests: The OSC is not aware of any 
scheduled protests 
or plans to disrupt the Opening Ceremony. Italian authorities 
remain on 
heightened alert throughout Turin to ensure the safety of 
spectators and VIPs 
attending the Paralympics. 
 
¶9. (U) The USG interagency OSC, JOC, and TIC will operate 
seven days a week from 
0800 to 1700 hours. The hours of operation will be extended 
to include any night 
events. 
 
 
PENDING MATTERS 
--------------- 
 
10.(U) There are no unresolved issues at this time. 
 
 
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 
------------------------------- 
 
11.(U) The USG Delegation to the Paralympics held a press 
conference yesterday 
morning at the Torino Esposizione (venue for sledge hockey) 
Media Center. 
Approximately 20 journalists attended,including a journalist 
from USA Today covering 
disability issues. We are monitoring resulting media 
coverage. At the Polytechnic 
University of Turin presentation in the afternoon of March 
10, Delegation head Margaret 
Spelling held a 20 minute sit down interview with Turin-based 
national daily La Stampa 
and held pull-aside interviews with local edition of 
center-left national daily La Repubblica 
and wire service ANSA. We know the La Stampa interview will 
come out on Sunday. 
March 12. Secretary Spelling was warmly welcomed by 
Polytechnic University Rector Father 
Francesco Profumo. Post will follow up on mutual areas for 
further collaboration. 
 
¶12. (U) Local Media Coverage: La Stampa ("The Neverending 
Celebration") and La Repubblica 
("Games of Courage and Heart") have large articles focusing 
on the Paralympics Opening 
Ceremonies last night, and the participation, with lots of 
applause of GOI President 
Carlo Ciampi and International Paralympic Committee 
President, Phil Craven. Both papers 
picked up on Ciampi's opening speech and pull his quote - "Ci 
Fate Amare La Vita 
(You Make Us Love Life). The papers cite 25,000 participants 
in the Opening Ceremony 
and a standing ovation of Alex Zanardi, Italian Formula One 
champion. 
 
¶13. (U) One negative article in La Stampa criticizes Italian 
television broadcaster 
RAI DUE's live coverage of the Opening Ceremonies. 
Apparently, they cut off part 
of the broadcast of the Opening Ceremonies on a couple of 
occasions, and broadcast 
a cartoon which this particular journalist found very 
insulting. 
 
 
 
CONSULAR AFFAIRS 
---------------- 
 
¶14. (U) Consular Section Turin as no action requests. The 
Consular Office for the 
duration of the Turin Paralympics is co-located with the 
Public Affairs office in 
the same building as the OSC and Olympics Coordination Office 
in Turin. The Consular 
Section is staffed by four staff members and one consular 
officer. The office will 
be open from 0900 to 1800 hours. The office provides 
emergency services for US 
citizens and has established and 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 on 
HTTP://Milan.USConsulate.Gov. 
SPOGLI