The Vancouver Olympics Cables: Day 4

From Feb. 15, 2010, as published April 28, 2011 by WikiLeaks

10VANCOUVER70 2010-02-15 22:10 2011-04-28 00:12 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Vancouver

UNCLAS VANCOUVER 000070

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 #5

¶1. (SBU) The following report provides security-related
information for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games as of noon
on February 15, 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



Protests:



¶2. (SBU) February 14 Protest Activity - The 19th Annual Memorial
Women's March took place from noon to 4 p.m. yesterday. The march
began at the Carnegie Community Centre and proceeded through
Downtown Eastside. This event was not overtly anti-Olympics and
there were no reports of disruptive activity. Vancouver's 36th
Annual Chinese New Year Parade also took place yesterday with no
Olympics-related disruptions.



¶3. (SBU) Current Protest Activity - The second successive "2010
Autonomous Day of Action" is scheduled for today. As evidenced in
Saturday's demonstrations, small groups of anarchists may engage in
acts of vandalism and confrontations with local law enforcement.
An anti-homelessness rally called "No Empty Talk, No Empty Lots" is
scheduled for noon at Pigeon Park (at Carrall and East Hastings
Streets). An "Anti-War and Anti-Militarization Moving Spectacle"
will also take place at the Vancouver Art Gallery (Georgia Street
side) at 6 p.m.

¶4. (SBU) Anticipated Protest Activity - No demonstrations or
protests are scheduled from 16 through 19 February. The next
demonstration is scheduled to be a "Rally for National Housing" on
Saturday, 20 February at the Vancouver Art Gallery beginning at
noon. Diplomatic Security Updates will continue to monitor protest
activity and will provide updates as they become available.



Incidents:



¶5. (SBU) No significant incidents have occurred during this
reporting period.



Threats:



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



SECURITY OPERATIONS



¶7. (SBU) A vehicle in U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's motorcade
was involved in a minor accident on Sunday when a van in the
motorcade was rear ended by the motorcade vehicle behind it. Two

individuals in the van were taken to a local hospital as a
precaution and were later released. The Vice President's vehicle
was not involved in the accident.



¶8. (SBU) U.S. Vice President Joe Biden departed Vancouver this
morning en route to Washington, D.C.



PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

¶9. The Public Affairs desk received an initial inquiry about the
motorcade event from Global TV. We worked closely with White House
staffers to keep them apprised of that initial media call and
provided contingency planning advice in preparation of the news
becoming more widely circulated. We collaborated closely with the
JOC's SWO to keep all parties informed of news coverage, which
ultimately received wide publication in the United States and
lesser coverage in Canada (partly because the winning of Canada's
first Olympic gold medal eclipsed the motorcade accident in
Canadian media).

CONSULAR ISSUES

¶10. An AMCIT has been arrested and charged in relation to the
February 13th disturbance by the Black Bloc anti-V2010 group. ACS
staff report that subject will be transferred from Vancouver PD
custody to CBSA custody, with the expectation that he will be taken
to the Canada-U.S. border in the next couple days. Latest
information indicates that he will face two weapons charges at a
March 15th court date.

¶11. ACS staff has been in contact with the two distinguished
guests of the Vice-President who were involved in the February 14th

VPOTUS motorcade accident. Latest reports indicate that both were
treated at a local hospital and released.

POLITICAL/GENERAL ISSUES

¶12. Vice-President Biden hosted a reception in support of the USOC
at the home of the US Consul General. The event was attended by
approximately 70 guests and featured remarks by the Vice President
supporting US Olympic efforts and the work of the USOC. Following
the reception, Vice-President Biden attended the US-China women's
hockey game where the US defeated China 12-1.

¶13. Unseasonably warm weather conditions continue in the Vancouver
area.

¶14. In an event described by local media as "Our long national
nightmare is over," Canadian men's freestyle mogul skier Alexandre
Bilodeau won the country's first ever Olympic gold medal on
Canadian soil. A schedule and results of all competitions
throughout the Games can be found at
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-schedule -results/.
CHICOLA