Cablegate: Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics: Situation Report #17

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RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
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RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
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RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/NGA HQ BETHESDA MD
RHMFIUU/NGA ST LOUIS MO
RHMFIUU/TSA HQ WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/USCENTCOM POLITICAL ADVISOR MACDILL AFB FL
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RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC KOLY CASC CA PTER AMGT PINR OVIP
SUBJECT: Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics: Situation Report #17

1. (SBU) The following report provides security-related
information for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games as of noon
February 27, 2010. Please visit the following link for additional
classified reporting:

https://nol.nctc.sgov.gov/ng/cgi-bin/nctcHome .cgi?event=Vancouver_2
010. The interagency U.S. Government (USG) Joint Operations Center
(JOC) can be contacted on a 24-hour basis at 604-692-2509, ext
4013.

2. (U//FOUO//LES) Canadian and USG authorities are currently
unaware of any specific, credible threats to the Games as the
Closing Ceremonies approach Sunday, February 28, at 5:30 p.m. PST.
BC Place will open to ticket holders at 1:30 p.m. PST.
Anti-Olympics demonstrations scheduled for Sunday are not expected
to affect the Closing Ceremonies.

SECURITY ISSUES

3. (U) USA, Canada to face off in Gold Medal Hockey Game -
Friday's semifinal games set the stage for the much-anticipated
Gold Medal match between Teams USA and Canada. As with previous
games between the perennial rivals, concerns exist as to the
potentially contentious nature of Sunday's 12:15 p.m. PST game at
Canada Hockey Place (CHP) and its impact on public order. Downtown
liquor stores will restrict alcohol sales through the weekend in an
attempt to mitigate potential incidents. CHP is located within
blocks of Vancouver's entertainment district, primary pedestrian
corridors, and many hotels.

4. (U//FOUO//LES) Mass exodus expected at Vancouver
International Airport March 1 - A record number of passengers - an
estimated 40,000 - is expected to depart the Vancouver
International Airport (YVR) on March 1. The crush of travelers may
create delays, potential confrontations between passengers and
security/airport staff, and safety/crowd control problems in an
emergency. Canadian authorities are currently unaware of any
threats to YVR.

Protests:

5. (U) February 26 Protest Activity - The "Critical Mass Bike
Ride" transpired without incident.

6. (U//FOUO//LES) Current Protest Activity - The "Pirates of
Justice" flash mob - a group protesting working conditions on
Olympic security accommodation vessels - is scheduled for noon
today adjacent to Canada Place. This group's previous activities
were not associated with property damage or violence. Approximately
seventy attendees are currently registered for this demonstration.

7. (U//FOUO//LES) The anti-homelessness advocacy group Red
Tent is staging an "Olympic Wrap-Up" demonstration at Canada
Pavilion (Dunsmuir and Beatty, approximately 2 blocks NE of Canada
Hockey Place) at noon PST today. Demonstrators plan to assemble at

Keefer and Abbott Streets then move approximately one block west to
Canada Pavilion. Once at Canada Pavilion, activists intend to set
up 142 red tarps and use 1700 feet of "messaging" to "wrap the
entire pavilion" as part of their call for an end to homelessness.
Protesters are encouraged to bring a paintbrush, instruments, and
sleeping gear to stay overnight. The march from the assembly area
at Keefer and Abbott Streets to the Pavilion will likely disrupt
traffic and temporarily obstruct public access to the exhibit, but
it not anticipated to interfere with any Olympic events.

8. (U//FOUO//LES) Anticipated Protest Activity - The "Games
Over! Resistance Lives!" demonstration is scheduled to take place
from 1 to 5 p.m. on February 28 at the intersection of Smithe and
Cambie Streets, several blocks south of BC Place. This
demonstration has 171 attendees currently confirmed and is expected
to be peaceful.

Incidents:

9. (U//FOUO//LES) At c. 10:50 a.m. PST today, TSA and CBP JOC
sources received word of a suspicious item at the Vancouver Airport
international terminal. The suspicious item - an outbound
passenger's bag - was inspected and found benign by CBP and
Canadian law enforcement personnel. No further action was required
by Canadian or USG personnel and the incident is considered closed.
No other Olympics-related security incidents occurred during this
reporting period.

Threats:

10. (SBU) At this time, there are no known specific, credible
transnational terrorist threats against the Vancouver Olympics.

SECURITY OPERATIONS

11. (SBU) Diplomatic Security remains engaged in daily USOC team
movements.

12. (SBU) Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet
Napolitano, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius,
and US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice will depart Vancouver March
1. The VIP delegation is scheduled to attend several events,
including the Men's Gold Medal Hockey match at Canada Hockey Place
and the Closing Ceremonies.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

13. There is no significant information or activity to report.

CONSULAR ISSUES

14. There is no significant information or activity to report.

POLITICAL/GENERAL ISSUES

15. Cooler weather and rain have returned to the Vancouver area.
A schedule and results of all competitions throughout the Games can
be found at http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-schedule -results/.
CHICOLA

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