The Vancouver Olympic Cables: Day 2

From Feb. 13, 2010, as published April 28, 2011 by WikiLeaks

10VANCOUVER64 2010-02-13 22:10 2011-04-28 00:12 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Vancouver

UNCLAS VANCOUVER 000064

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DS/TIA
STATE FOR DS/DSS/DO
STATE FOR DS/P/MECU
STATE FOR DS/DO/P
STATE FOR DS/ICI/CI
STATE FOR DS/T/ATA
STATE FOR DS/TIA/ITA
STATE FOR DS/TIA/PII
STATE FOR DS/TIA/CC
STATE FOR S/CT
STATE FOR CA/OCS/ACS/WHA
STATE FOR DS/IP/WHA
STATE FOR WHA/CAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC KOLY CASC CA PTER AMGT PINR OVIP
SUBJECT: Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics: Situation Report #3

¶1. (SBU) The following report provides security-related
information for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games as of noon
on February 13, 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 USG Joint Operations Center can be contacted
on a 24-hour basis at 604-692-2509, ext 4013.



SECURITY ISSUES



Olympic Protests:



¶2. (SBU) March to BC Place Mostly Peaceful - The "Take Back
Our City" march at 3 p.m. yesterday, February 12, drew an estimated
1,000 people before police stopped it near BC Place, the site of
the Opening Ceremonies. Several protesters threw small items and
police arrested a few demonstrators, but the march was mostly
peaceful and dispersed by 7:40 p.m.



¶3. (SBU) Current Protest Activity - Bands of protesters, some
affiliated with the "Heart Attack" march and the "2010 Autonomous
Day of Action," are reportedly circulating throughout the city,
some numbering up to 250. Reports of violence and property damage -
in the form smashing windows of retail stores, damaging cars, and
throwing objects at police officers - are being received. Police
escorts are accompanying several groups, and anti-riot police are
stationed at key locations in downtown Vancouver. The Vancouver
Police Department and Royal Canadian Mounted Police have made

several arrests.



¶4. (SBU) Anticipated Protest Activity - The 19th Annual
Women's March is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. tomorrow, February
¶14. The march will begin at the Carnegie Community Centre and
proceed through the Downtown Eastside. Anti-Olympic protesters are
discouraged from attending.



Incidents:



¶5. (SBU) There are no incidents to report.



Threats:



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



SECURITY OPERATIONS



¶7. (SBU) U.S. Vice President Joe Biden arrived at Whistler
Mountain today and is attending several Olympic events.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY



¶8. The presence of Vice President Biden was mentioned several times
during and after the Olympics' opening ceremony, and the Vice
President was briefly shown on-screen during the march-in of Team
USA on CTV. Prior to the opening ceremony, the VP's meet and greet
with Team USA athletes was covered by Getty, NBC and Associated
Press journalists, which post's public affairs staff worked to get
into the event.





CONSULAR ISSUES



¶9. There is no significant information or activity to report.



POLITICAL/GENERAL ISSUES



¶10. The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics officially opened with a 3
hour celebration at BC Place. During a dramatic display of lights
and music, athletes from around the world were greeted by tens of
thousands of energetic spectators, as well as international

leaders, and celebrities. The elaborate ceremonies placed a special
emphasis on the diversity of Canadian cultural history, especially
aboriginal.



¶11. Post Political/Economic Officer Beau Fancher observed
anti-Olympic protests in downtown Vancouver immediately prior to
Friday's Opening Ceremonies. An estimated 1,000 protesters, many
carrying banners and yelling slogans of various causes from
pro-environment, pro-aboriginal, to anti-capitalist, protested the
Opening Ceremonies. The march was met by massed police lines in a
sometimes tense, but otherwise peaceful demonstration. The
protesters were contained and unable to seriously impede access to
the Ceremonies. The protest was centered at the meeting point of a
main entrance to the Ceremonies and the provincial representative
Alberta House. Many of the protesters carried signs and banners
critical of the controversial development of Alberta oil reserves,
known as "tar-sands." A senior representative from the BC Civil
Liberties Association, a group that has been highly critical of
Vancouver Police Department's (VPD) planned handling of potential
protests, expressed praise for VPD's "measured" response to the
protesters at the Opening Ceremonies.



¶12. Following arrival in Vancouver, Vice President Biden and rest
of the Presidential Delegation attended an afternoon USOC hosted US
athletes' pep rally. The Vice President addressed approximately70
US athletes, wishing them well in their upcoming competitions and
taking the opportunity to speak with each team individually while
taking team photos. The Vice President and Dr. Biden then attended
the GOC hosted Heads of Delegation reception before proceeding to
the Opening Ceremonies. Vice President Biden and the rest of the
Presidential Delegation attended the Opening Ceremonies and stayed
through the entirety of the festivities. Competitions begin this

morning with the first medals awarded in the final round of men's
ski jumping. A schedule and results of all competitions throughout
the Games can be found at
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-schedule -results/.
CHICOLA