The Vancouver Olympics Cables: Day 5

From Feb. 16, 2010, as published April 28, 2011 by WikiLeaks

10VANCOUVER76 2010-02-16 21:09 2011-04-28 00:12 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Vancouver

UNCLAS VANCOUVER 000076

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 #6

¶1. (SBU) The following report provides security-related
information for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games as of noon
on February 16, 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. (U//FOUO//LES) February 15 Protest Activity - The "Anti-War and
Anti-Militarization Moving Spectacle" drew approximately 100
protesters who marched peacefully from the Vancouver Art Gallery
through the urban core until slowly dispersing several hours later
near the intersection of Abbott and Hastings. Preliminary reports
suggested militant anarchist elements might embed themselves in the
demonstration and/or proceed to the U.S. Consulate, located three
blocks from the assembly point; however, this did not occur. Local
law enforcement was prepared to take a proactive role to interdict
potential anarchist/criminal activity.



¶3. (SBU) Several suspected Black Bloc members wearing balaclavas
reportedly infiltrated the anti-homelessness rally "No Empty Talk,
No Empty Lots" earlier in the day, but took no destructive action.



¶4. (SBU) Anticipated Protest Activity - No protests are scheduled

from 16 through 19 February. The next demonstration - a "Rally for
National Housing" - is scheduled for noon on Saturday, February 20
at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Diplomatic Security will continue to
monitor protest activity and will provide updates as they become
available.



Incidents:



¶5. (SBU) No significant, Olympics-related 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) Other than scheduled USOC and team movements, no
significant Olympics-related security operations have transpired
during this reporting period.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

¶8. The section assisted in arranging for a background interview
for a New York Times reporter's story on security cooperation for
the Olympics. Post coordinated with Embassy Ottawa and WHA/PDA to
obtain clearance and arrange for a background interview with CG
Phil Chicola, with an attributable quote from Ambassador Jacobson
to run in the story. The Consul General's and the Ambassador's
remarks reiterated U.S. confidence in Canadian security measures
and abilities, while also stressing that the United States remains
ready to assist Canada if needed and if requested.

CONSULAR ISSUES

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

POLITICAL/GENERAL ISSUES

¶10. Citing safety concerns due to the unseasonably warm weather
and rain in the Vancouver area, the Vancouver Olympic Committee
cancelled all of the approximately 20,000 general admission
standing room tickets for all events at Cypress Mountain. A
schedule and results of all competitions throughout the Games can
be found at http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-schedule -results/.
CHICOLA

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

The Vancouver Olympics Cables: Day 3

From Feb. 14, 2010, as published April 28, 2011 by WikiLeaks

10VANCOUVER66 2010-02-14 21:09 2011-04-28 00:12 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Vancouver

UNCLAS VANCOUVER 000066

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 #4

¶1. (SBU) The following report provides security-related
information for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games as of noon
on February 14, 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) February 13 Protest Activity - Approximately 250
individuals - many of them affiliated with so-called "Black Bloc"
anarchist groups - engaged in acts of vandalism during the "Heart
Attack" march, which was apparently part of a broader "2010
Autonomous Day of Action." One group threw red paint at the Hudson
Bay Company store at Granville and Robson Streets and smashed two
windows with a newspaper box. In a similar incident, the Toronto
Dominion Bank sustained damage to one of its street-level windows.
Newspaper boxes, rubbish bins, and caf???? furniture were also
dragged
into the street at various locations to obstruct traffic. Broken
windows and spray paint graffiti on cars and buses were reported at
other locations. Vancouver Police arrested at least seven for
attempted assault at West Georgia and Cardero Streets. The Lions
Gate Bridge was also temporarily closed to vehicular traffic due to
reports that protestors were moving in that direction. The bridge
was never affected and later reopened.

¶3. (SBU) Current Protest Activity - The 19th Annual Women's
March will take place from noon to 4 p.m. today. The march will
begin at the Carnegie Community Centre and proceed through Downtown
Eastside. This event is not Olympics-related, and anti-Olympics
protesters are discouraged from attending. Vancouver's 36th Annual
Chinese New Year Parade, expected to draw up to 20,000 people,
coincides with the march.



¶4. (SBU) Anticipated Protest Activity - Another "2010
Autonomous Day of Action" is scheduled for Monday, February 15. As
evidenced in Saturday's demonstrations, small groups of anarchists
may engage in acts of vandalism and confrontations with local law
enforcement. An "Anti-War and Anti-Militarization Moving
Spectacle" will take place at the Vancouver Art Gallery (Georgia
Street side) at 6 p.m.



Incidents:



¶5. (SBU) Subject Detained at Opening Ceremonies - An
individual who attempted to enter the International Olympic
Committee presidential box inside BC Place during Friday's Opening
Ceremonies using fake accreditation was detained. While the motive
is unclear, the subject is not a known activist and did not appear
to have malicious intent.



Threats:

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



¶7. (SBU/LES) Alleged threat to Olympics deemed non-credible -
According to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) information,
Vancouver police were notified that an inmate at Pinellas County
Jail, Florida, conversed with a prisoner of Arabic origin regarding
a possible terrorist attack on February 20 involving an aircraft
flown into the main area of the Olympics in Vancouver (NFI). The
FBI ascertained no individuals matching the alleged Arabic inmate
are presently incarcerated. This threat is considered non-credible.






SECURITY OPERATIONS



¶8. (SBU) U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to attend
several Olympic events in Vancouver today. The Vice President is
scheduled to depart Vancouver on Monday, February 15.





PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

¶9. Public affairs staff continued to assist White House
advance with setting up press interviews, with Vice President Biden
taping one interview with NBC Saturday evening, and another with
CBS on Sunday morning. The Globe and Mail's Jane Tabor has
requested an interview with Ambassador Jacobson for early next
week. No press inquiries on Olympic-specific topics.



CONSULAR ISSUES



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

POLITICAL/GENERAL ISSUES



¶11. Vice-President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen
Harper held a bi-lateral meeting Saturday. They discussed issues
ranging from security to the economy and the upcoming G8 and G20
summits. (Will be reported septel).



¶12. Unseasonably warm weather conditions, fog, and heavy rain
continue to interfere with Olympic competitions. Olympic officials
have been forced to reschedule many outdoor events.



¶13. During a rainstorm on Cypress Mountain, American women's
freestyle mogul skier Hannah Kearney upset Canadian gold medal

hopeful Jenn Heil to unexpectedly take the first US gold medal of
the Games. Canadian efforts to win a gold medal on Canadian soil,
a feat never achieved in the Winter Olympics, has been a constant
feature of Canadian media coverage leading up to the 2010 Games. A
schedule and results of all competitions throughout the Games can
be found at http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-schedule -results/.







.
CHICOLA

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

Behold, the WikiLeaks Vancouver Olympics cables!

Links to the day-by-day reports from the United States consulate in Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Olympics. The U.S. State Department had a temporary Joint Operations Center at 1133 Melville Street as well as a temporary installation at Bellingham International Airport.

February 12, 2010

February 13, 2010

February 14, 2010

February 15, 2010

February 16, 2010

February 17, 2010

February 18, 2010

February 19, 2010

February 20, 2010


February 21, 2010

February 22, 2010

February 23, 2010

February 24, 2010

February 25, 2010

February 26, 2010


February 27, 2010

February 28, 2010

WikiLeaks: Cuban boxers and their Pan Am defection bid

Whenever there is an international multisport event that includes athletes from a country where human rights or economic conditions are sub-par, then there is likely to be defections.

That's what happened at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro where Cuban boxers decided they didn't want to go home to Castro-stan in the Caribbean.

Here is a United States embassy cable published by WikiLeaks on the topic. Find another one at this link.

Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07BRASILIA1715 2007-09-11 15:03 2011-01-18 00:12 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Brasilia

VZCZCXRO4272
RR RUEHRG
DE RUEHBR #1715 2541550
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 111550Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9915
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6271
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 4986
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 7004
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 6408
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 7113
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 5070
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 0744
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0047
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRASILIA 001715

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2017
TAGS: PREL SCUL BR CU
SUBJECT: DEPUTIES PROPOSE TRIP TO CUBA TO INVESTIGATE BOXERS' RETURN

Classified By: Political Counselor Stephen Liston, reasons 1.4 B and D

¶1. (C) Summary. A delegation of Brazilian federal deputies could travel to Havana soon to learn more about the Cuban boxers who were returned to Cuba during the PanAm games after apparently trying to defect and then undergoing a change of heart. The deputies would try to see the boxers to determine whether they have suffered any retaliation from the Cuban government, but the president of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies may not allow the trip for budgetary reasons. Although the opposition is keeping the incident alive in the press, its criticism of the GOB has not resonated much outside of congress. End summary.

¶2. (C) Deputies from the Chamber of Deputies Foreign Relations and National Defense Committee (CREDN) could visit Cuba in September to gather information about the circumstances of the return of two Cuban boxers who competed in the PanAm Games last July, then apparently tried to defect, but suddenly changed their minds. Last week, the CREDN approved a resolution on the Cuba trip, but an adviser to Arlindo Chinaglia, president of the Chamber of Deputies and a member of President Lula's Workers Party, told us that Chinaglia, as Chamber president, must approve all official foreign travel and might well disallow this trip for budgetary reasons. The adviser said politics would not be an issue in the decision and that the presidential palace was not likely to pressure Chinaglia to block the trip. However, the CREDN chairman has already traveled extensively, and the Chamber is facing growing budgetary constraints.

¶3. (SBU) When the boxers, Guillermo Rigondeaux and Erislandy Lara, asked to go home after having gone missing, Brazilian authorities quickly facilitated their request and sent them away on a Venezuelan aircraft reportedly chartered by the Cuban government. Intense congressional and media attention in the aftermath raised questions about the actions of Brazilian authorities and the circumstances leading up to the boxers' return. Press reports described a scenario in which the boxers may or may not have had a drunken night out on the town, decided not to return to Cuba, discussed contracts with a German promoter, applied for visas to Germany, then suddenly changed their minds and told Brazilian Federal Police (PF) they wanted to go back to Cuba. Local press reports said Rigondeaux and Lara had felt pressured after family members in Cuba told them by phone that the government had reduced their food rations and were threatening to expel them from their homes. The PF, which is under the Justice Ministry, arranged their immediate return. Both houses of congress have called GOB officials to testify on their actions; Justice Minister Tarso Genro defended the government,s actions as being totally within the law, and noted that other Cubans who sought asylum have been allowed to stay (note: Rafael D'Acosta Capote, a handball player, and Lazaro Lamelas, a coach). Foreign Minister Amorim is due to testify later this month. Members of congress continue to spar over whether the GOB did the right thing and whether Brazil complied with international norms of behavior.

¶4. (C) Comment. Although it remains unclear at what level decisions were made in the GOB, and what role the Cuban government played, it seems most likely that the Justice ministry did not look behind the boxers' sudden change of heart, and simply took the path of least resistance. The Ministry of External Relations's unusual public statement after the event, in which it denied any part in the decision, seems to support this view. By operating in its usual conflict-avoidance mode and trying to rid itself of a potential problem, the Brazilian government may have brought on itself unwelcome scrutiny from congressional oppositionists who might wish to show the government acting against freedom-loving Cubans. The proposed congressional trip is the latest gambit by congressional opposition to keep the Cuban boxers incident alive. So far, however, the effort does not seem to be resonating much outside the halls of congress.

Sobel

WikiLeak shows Chinese pride and sticker shock over 2008 Games

Chinese were proud of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but shocked and embarrassed by the $40 billion cost. Of course, there was little they could do about the cost. Even talking about it was a risky proposition.

The United States' embassy in Beijing was listening and issued this confidential cable on Sept. 2, 2008, just over two weeks after the dazzling closing ceremony at the Bird's Nest. The cable was published by WikiLeaks on Dec. 28, 2010 and explores how the Chinese Communist Party used the Games to increase its profile. The cable concludes: "It was clear to everyone that Hu Jintao was the real host of the Olympics."

British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell was in Beijing and watching closely. You could say he tried to be the host of the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

VZCZCXRO3005
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #3385/01 2461030
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 021030Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9664
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003385

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2033
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KOLY CH
SUBJECT: PARTY ENJOYS BOOST THANKS TO OLYMPICS, BUT SOME
ANGER OVER COSTS

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson
for reasons 1.4 (B/D).

Summary
-------

¶1. (C) China's top leadership and a sizeable majority
of the Chinese public view the recent Beijing-hosted
Olympic Games as a great success, according to Embassy
contacts. Most academics and journalists we spoke
with in the week following the August 24 closing
ceremony told us the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is
enjoying an increase in legitimacy as a result.
However, several of the contacts warned that these
gains are tempered by widespread resentment of the
"excessive" costs of hosting the Games. Some
interlocutors believe Politburo Standing Committee
members Xi Jinping, who was in charge of overall
Olympic preparations, and Zhou Yongkang, responsible
for internal security, have benefited politically from
pulling off an Olympics free of serious disruption.
Others feel President Hu Jintao is the biggest winner
from the Games. End summary.

Boost to Party Legitimacy...
----------------------------

¶2. (C) The central leadership views the recent
Beijing-hosted Olympics as a great success that has
given the regime a boost in legitimacy, according to
numerous contacts we spoke with in the days following
the August 24 closing ceremony. Dong Lisheng
(protect), a political scientist at the Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences, told PolOff the Games "far
exceeded" the expectations of top-level Party leaders,
who welcomed the public's nationalistic response as a
boost for Party legitimacy. Freelance journalist Chen
Jieren (protect), who is the nephew of Politburo
Standing Committee member He Guoqiang, said "70
percent" of the public supported the Games. For most
Chinese, Chen said, the Olympics were about "standing
up" and winning the world's respect and were thus
successful. Chen Hao (protect), Executive Editor-in-
Chief of the International Herald Leader, a newspaper
run by the Xinhua News Agency, said the Olympics
represent a clear "political achievement" (zheng ji)
for the Party that will make it easier for the central
leadership to implement its policies in the coming
months. Professor Su Hao (protect), of China Foreign
Affairs University (CFAU), offered a similar
assessment, saying that the success of the Games
resulted in a "large boost in legitimacy" for the
government and a surge of national pride.

...but Resentment over Costs
----------------------------

¶3. (C) While contacts generally agreed the Olympics
will boost public support for the Communist Party,
many of our interlocutors cautioned that any
legitimacy gains are diluted by wide-spread criticism
over the excessive expense of hosting (which was
announced as over USD 40 billion, including
infrastructure investment). Wu Yin (protect), Vice
President of the public opinion polling firm Horizon,
told PolOff August 28 that many Beijingers believe
hosting the Olympics has accelerated the rise in fuel
and food prices. Strict security, Wu continued,
dampened public enthusiasm during the Games and there
is lingering disappointment that the much-anticipated
economic benefits to Beijing's service industry failed
to materialize. In the end, Wu argued, gains in
public support for the Party will be minimal, at best.
Guan Renfeng (protect), a graduate student at Xinjiang
University who visited Beijing during the final
weekend of the Games, told PolOff August 25 that he is
proud of his country's Olympics effort but he gives
the government an "A minus" rather than an A "because
they spent too much money." Guangming Ribao editor
Dong Yuyu (protect) commented that while the majority
of Chinese "reflexively" support the Olympics and feel
proud, the public feels uneasy about excessive
government spending. Dong said many Chinese, had they
been given a choice, would have supported spending
these resources on education and health care rather
than hosting the Olympics. Niu Xinchun (protect), a
scholar at the Ministry of State Security-affiliated
Chinese Institutes of Contemporary International
Relations (CICIR), told PolOff August 25 that a
"significant portion" of the Chinese public resents

BEIJING 00003385 002 OF 002


the enormous costs of hosting the Games. CFAU's Su,
however, felt such concerns over spending are
overblown, noting that the cost of the Olympics was
just a small percentage of China's total GDP.

Central Dissatisfaction with BOCOG
-----------------------------------

¶4. (C) Ding Kuisong (protect), Vice Chairman of the
CCP Party School-affiliated think tank China Reform
Forum, said Politburo Standing Committee (PBSC) Member
and Vice President Xi Jinping was placed in charge of
the overall Olympics effort due, in part, to high-
level dissatisfaction with missteps by the Beijing
Organizing Committee for the Games of the 29th
Olympiad (BOCOG). BOCOG's alleged mistakes included
agreeing "without sufficient coordination" to global
torch relay routes that were "inappropriate." Ding
said Xi, and even CCP General Secretary Hu Jintao,
personally made many Olympics-related decisions,
including logistical arrangements for President Bush's
attendance at the opening ceremony. Dissident scholar
Liu Junning (protect), told PolOff September 2 that
he, too, had heard of tension between BOCOG and the
central leadership over the torch relay fiasco, but
Liu said it was always the plan to have the Central
Government take the lead role in the final weeks.

Olympic Victory for Xi Jinping, Zhou Yongkang
---------------------------------------------

¶5. (C) Chen Jieren told PolOff that both Xi Jinping
and fellow PBSC member Zhou Yongkang, who is in charge
of China's security apparatus, benefited politically
from the Games. Overseeing the Olympics was the first
major assignment for Xi since being promoted to the
PBSC in October 2007. While Chen said that some of
Xi's rivals at the top may have secretly hoped that Xi
would stumble, the success of the Games has, in fact,
burnished Xi's image. Zhou Yongkang, meanwhile, is
now "exceptionally powerful," Chen said. Zhou had
already received a great deal of praise following the
Sichuan earthquake due to the quick response of
security forces, Chen explained, and the lack of a
major security incident at the Olympics further
strengthened Zhou's standing. Dong Lisheng, of CASS,
largely echoed Chen's comments, saying Xi passed his
first major test as a top-level leader.

Hu Jintao and Collective Leadership the Real Winners
--------------------------------------------- -------

¶6. (C) Guangming Ribao editor Dong Yuyu concurred that
Zhou is very powerful and his stock is rising because
of his performance over the last year and during the
Olympics. However, Dong did not agree that Xi
Jinping's political stature had risen as a result of
his Olympics assignment. According to Dong, the
Party's Central Secretariat assumed overall management
of the Games and it was "natural" for Xi, as head of
the Secretariat, to take the leading role. Moreover,
Xi still coordinated all Olympic decisions with the
rest of the Politburo Standing Committee. If
anything, Dong argued, the Olympics was a "collective"
triumph for the entire Party leadership, not just Xi.
Liu Junning agreed, saying Hu Jintao, not Xi Jinping,
is the main beneficiary of the Olympics given Hu's
prominence during the Games. (Note: In addition to
hosting world leaders and presiding over the opening
ceremony, Hu made high-profile appearances at several
events.) "It was clear to everyone that Hu Jintao was
the real host of the Olympics," Liu said.
RANDT

WikiLeaks rewinds to the 1-year countdown to Vancouver 2010

Just 25 minutes after the precise moment the one-year countdown to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics passed, a memo was sent from the United States Consulate in Vancouver providing an overview of preparations for the Games. The Guardian published the memo on Dec. 21.

The key passage in Consul General Phillip Chicola's memo deals with information that the RCMP was struggling to balance its Olympic security duties with the responsibility of enforcing drug laws. The memo specifically mentions marijuana investigations, but Metro Vancouver is the setting for a battle among gangs to control cocaine and crystal meth trafficking. Late 2008 and early 2009 was an especially deadly period.

The RCMP denies the Olympics compromised drug investigations, but it isn't denying that officers were seconded to the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit.

Thursday, 12 February 2009, 18:25
C O N F I D E N T I A L VANCOUVER 000031
STATE FOR DS/P/MECU, DS/DSS/DO, DS/IP/WHA
STATE FOR WHA/CAN
EO 12958 DECL: 2/11/2019
TAGS CA, PGOV, KOLY, ASEC, ECON
SUBJECT: VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPICS FEELING THE ECONOMIC PINCH IN
PREPARATIONS, SECURITY
CLASSIFIED BY: G. Kathleen Hill, Political/Economic Chief, US Consulate Vancouver, State. REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)

Summary
US diplomats discuss the financial strain the 2010 Winter Olympics put on its host city. It says there are signs the Vancouver security strategy is feeling the pinch of "economic and personnel shortages", but the Canadians are "sensitive to the issues of sovereignty".

Read related story
1. (U) Summary: The global economic crisis and modern demands of post 9/11 security are proving to be huge challenges for the organizers of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The competition and special events venues are complete and already hosting test events, but the financial crisis surrounding the Olympic Village has consumed local politicians and media (and was probably the determining factor in the recent Vancouver Mayoral election). Finances are also looming large over the Games' security. Original estimates of C$175 million have now ballooned to a figure somewhere between C$400 million and C$1 billion. While the Province and the Government of Canada (GOC) continue to negotiate who pays what, other costs, in the form of police and military resources, are beginning to be born across the region. The impact may reach far beyond the Games, with significant reductions in policing activity and investigations nationwide. Because of the economic downturn, the Vancouver Olympics Committee (VANOC) has already announced modest changes to save money, but is still promising to stage spectacular Games - within available financial resources. End Summary.

Ready to Compete, But Not to Sleep

2. (U) Vancouver is set to host the Winter Olympics in February 2010. Optimism over the event remains strong, as evidenced by the recent phase one ticket sales for Canadians only, which sold out completely in just a few hours and left many subscribers with only a small portion of requested tickets. However the global economic crisis is creating headaches not envisioned when the city bid and won the right to host the Games. Controversies abound over the "true" costs of the Games. The Olympics were used by Vancouver and British Columbia to jump start planned but expensive infrastructure projects such as the C$600 million upgrade of the Sea-to-Sky Highway between Vancouver and Whistler and the new C$2 billion Canada Line rapid transit system. Critics like to lump these costs in with the more direct Olympics costs, emphasizing an overwhelming burden placed on the BC">BC and Canadian taxpayer.

3. (U) Amidst the criticism, VANOC has shown remarkable financial astuteness, beginning serious revisions of the Games' operating budget in spring 2008, well before the serious specter of a global financial crisis became evident. All competition venues, one of the main areas of responsibility for VANOC, are completed or will be completed on time and within budget. VANOC recently announced a revision to the budget, increasing the final price tag on operating the Games by C$127 million to a total of C$1.76 billion. According to VANOC's Executive Vice President, David Guscott, the Organizing Committee has obtained enough corporate sponsorship and ticket and souvenir sales to bring it within sight of this budget, lacking only about C$30 million to reach its goal. But it has had to make sacrifices to keep on target, such as decreasing hiring and making changes in operational plans, including eliminating a nightly medal awards ceremony in downtown Whistler that has that community's residents feeling betrayed. Despite the financial challenges, VANOC's revenue from ticket sales and corporate sponsorship remains on target and the organization appears weQ placed to meet its obligations.

4. (U) The same cannot be said for the C$700 million-plus Olympic Village, a key element of the Games and a major responsibility of the City of Vancouver. The Village is being developed by a private corporation on prime waterfront land provided by the city. It's slated to become a mixed use residential/commercial area after the Games with high, middle and low-income housing. The developer ran into problems in September, when more than C$100 million in cost overruns threatened to stop the project. Then Mayor Sam Sullivan and the City Council held a series of closed door meetings where they developed a plan for the city to provide guarantees so a loan could be obtained to cover the increases. The secretiveness of the financial arrangements became a major factor in the December city elections, which saw Sullivan's coalition lose the mayoral seat and all but one city council position. In addition, the controversy caused the city manager, a senior deputy and the chief financial officer to lose their jobs. In December, just after the elections, the primary financial backer of the project, U.S. company Fortress Investment Group, announced it would not deliver the final C$458 million in capital to complete the project due to financial losses from the sub-prime mortgage crisis. The new mayor, Gregor Robertson, found himself in the same hot seat, dealing with the possible collapse of the project. In the end, he sought, and was granted, special provincial legislative authority for the city to seek loans to cover completion of the project. Olympic critics have had a field day with the problems, promoting stories of taxpayer losses in the billions, and a combination of substantive factors led Moody's and Standard & Poor to place the City of Vancouver on credit-watch status. Real estate analysts have been more optimistic, asserting that the city could make a considerable profit on the deal down the road and highlighting the fact that it is the last undeveloped piece of waterfront property in downtown and very desirable. The city paid only C$50 million for the land through its Property Endowment Fund, a longterm investment fund estimated to be worth almost C$3 billion. Even if the development makes only half of the originally estimated profit, the fund could cover the immediate loss without affecting the city operation's budget and, as a longterm investment, it could still be a win for the city. VANOC's Guscott was confident the city would meet its part of the deal, presenting a completed, functioning Village on time. In VANOC's view the project has been caught in an unfortunate cross between municipal elections and the downturn in the economy, with the financial problems severely overblown.

Security - But at What Price?

5. (U) Perhaps the biggest loss will be taken by the province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada (GOC) which will bear the brunt of cost overruns in the security of the games. The Integrated Security Unit (ISU) was set up to manage the Games' security. It is headed by the RCMP, with representative from all major police, intelligence and defense entities. Original estimates on Olympics security were in the C$175 million range. But now no one is willing to give a number. The provincial Finance Minister, Colin Hansen, will only say it's somewhere between C$400 million and C$1 billion. Hansen admits he was surprised at the estimates coming out of Ottawa for overall security. A special committee was established early on to determine B.C.'s and the GOC's shares of incremental costs above basic policing. The ballooning nature of the security structure and programs has left the committee bogged down in "endless line-by-line micro-analysis," according to Hansen. Consequently the Province offered up a final, comprehensive plan on who pays what which is in Ottawa for approval. Realistically, as the ISU tests and refines its plans, the costs continue to be fluid and the final numbers will not be known until after the Games are completed. BC">BC originally estimated its overall Games' costs, including infrastructure, venues and security, at approximately C$600 million. Minister Hansen announced on February 9 that the new security numbers will force the province well over that mark. With 2009 a provincial election year in BC">BC, the cost of Games' security is becoming a major issue for the ruling BC">BC Liberals, who are hoping a reasonable agreement with the GOC will soften the financial blow.

6. (C) Beyond monetary costs, the Olympics are beginning to create critical resource costs. Law enforcement representatives working at the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver are reporting that more and more of their contacts are being pulled to work on Olympics security issues. A DEA agent was told by one of his RCMP counterparts that by September all regional drug agents could be working on Olympics, with no investigations ongoing until March 2010. Already the RCMP has all but stopped marijuana-related investigations. RCMP is also undergoing severe belt tightening with new, stricter enforcement of overtime rules. To highlight the Canadian constraints, an RCMP officer told us that the Italians put 30,000 Carabinieri in Turin for the 2006 Winter Games and the RCMP has less than 30,000 officers in all of Canada.

Big Business, But no Room at the Inn

7. (U) The 2010 Olympics are presenting significant financial opportunities for area residents and businesses. In addition to the massive infrastructure and construction projects, VANOC is procuring millions of dollars in services and support for the Games. And Canadians are not the only recipients of these contracts. U.S. firms have managed to win several major contracts thus far to provide everything from tents and portable toilets to tickeQprinting, dining services and flags for the games.

8. (U) One big concern for many in the tourist industry, and for those of us working the Games for the USG, is the question of accommodations. The International Olympics Committee requires a host city to provide between 20,000 and 25,000 rooms for just the Olympic "family" alone (sponsors, officials, etc). This leaves little room for the spectators who come to watch the Games and the visiting dignitaries. IOC rules give only five rooms to the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) for official delegations from participating countries. If delegations, and their support and security, are more than five people, it is incumbent on the delegation to find its own additional accommodations. Consulate General Vancouver has already secured accommodations for the agencies participating in the Olympics Coordination Office and the Joint Operations Center but would like to make an urgent plea for notification as soon as possible of the composition of the official delegations to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games. (The Paralympics are much smaller and accommodations will be more readily available.) Accommodations are scarce to non-existent now and the sooner we know the make-up of delegations, the more likely we will be able to provide suitable rooms within reasonable distance of the major venues.

9. (SBU) Comment: It should be noted that in every meeting we have with Olympics officials the first question is "Who is heading your Opening Ceremonies delegation?" Although the official invitation comes from the NOC, in this case the U.S. Olympic Committee, to the VIP, most Canadians involved are hoping that President Obama and his family will attend the Games. The President is immensely popular in Canada and given the Games' proximity to the U.S. there are high expectations that the President and his family will make an appearance.

10. (C) Proximity is also on our minds as we look at overall Olympic security. With the Olympics being held within 30 miles of the U.S. border there are already numerous areas where security is a shared responsibility, such as our pre-existing shared responsibilities over airspace through Northcom. The Canadians are doing an excellent job in developing their security strategy, but we are starting to see some small signs that they are feeling the pinch of economic and personnel shortages. They are sensitive to the issues of sovereignty and we have been reminded repeatedly that they are responsible for the overall security of the Games. Our Olympics Coordination Office and Olympics Security Coordinator are working very closely with VANOC and the ISU and closely monitoring developments with an eye toward any possible further assistance we can provide should the needs arise. End Comment.

CHICOLA

WikiLeaks goes to the Olympics

Among the 251,287 United States Department of State diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks are numerous about the Olympic Games. You will see them first on WikiLeaks, but I will endeavor to reproduce many of them on this blog and offer analysis.

The Olympics used to be solely about sport, but are now more about politics, economics and security.

Here is how the U.S. Embassy in Brasillia, Brazil analyzed the 2016 Rio de Janeiro bid committee's win in Copenhagen, where the International Olympic Committee rejected bids by Madrid, Tokyo and Chicago.

REFERENCE ID: 09BRASILIA1439 CREATED: 2009-12-24 13:01 RELEASED: 2010-12-02 09:09 CLASSIFICATION: CONFIDENTIAL ORIGIN: Embassy Brasilia

VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBR #1439/01 3581308
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 241307Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0212
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRASILIA 001439

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/24
TAGS: PREL BR KOLY ASEC PGOV
SUBJECT: 2016 Rio Olympics - The Future is Now

REF: BRASILIA 347; BRASILIA 278

CLASSIFIED BY: Lisa Kubiske, Charge d'Affaires a.i.; REASON: 1.4(D)

¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Brazilians greeted the October 1 announcement that the 2016 Summer Olympics were awarded to Rio de Janeiro with an outpouring of national pride, a party on Copacabana beach and a sense of relief that the country is gaining some long overdue recognition as a regional and international leader. Politically, the GOB is looking to capitalize on hosting the games to solidify Brazil's image as the leader of South America and as an emerging global player. Internally, the IOC decision is being portrayed as a validation of President Lula's administration. The GOB understands that it faces critical challenges in preparing for the 2016 Games and has shown greater openness in such areas as information sharing to cooperation with the USG as a result - even going so far as to admit there could be a possibility of terrorist threats. The Lula government has taken care to associate Lula's chosen candidate to succeed him in 2011, Dilma Rousseff, with the IOC decision and expects the euphoria engendered by Rio's selection to translate into higher poll numbers for Rouseff. There remain, however, significant problems, that could impact the success of the Games , especially in terms of addressing security concerns. The Brazilian leadership remains highly sensitive to perceptions of USG interference and has not begun preparations for international coordination. In addition to preparing for the commercial opportunities the games will afford U.S. businesses, the USG should look to leverage Brazilian interest in an Olympic success to progress in bilateral cooperation in such areas as security and information exchanges. END SUMMARY.

¶2. (SBU) Amid the celebrations of the October 1 selection of Rio de Janeiro to host the 2016 Olympics there runs a strong current of relief among Brazilian leaders. President Lula described the feeling as "the end of the street dog complex," the idea that Brazil somehow does not deserve the status of an important country. Ministry of External Relations (MRE) Coordinator for Sporting Cooperation Vera Alvarez noted that being the first South American country chosen to host the Games was seen as evidence that the world (or at least the IOC) recognized Brazilian primacy on the continent and regional leadership. Alvarez also echoed a view expressed commonly in the Brazilian press: Rio's competitors had been Chicago (the United States), Madrid (the EU) and Tokyo (the Pacific Rim), and its victory must therefore reflect Brazil's perceived comparative success in dealing with the global financial crisis. "The IOC appreciated that we were the first to emerge from the crisis," she said.

¶3. (SBU) Asked what Brazil's goals for hosting the Games were, Alvarez repeated President Lula's assertion that these would be the "games of South America" and said that the GOB was planning to open its borders to its neighbors to encourage attendance by sports fans from all over the continent. Presidential Chief of Staff and likely presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff said the Games will provide opportunities for a younger generation of Brazilians and said the government would make numbers of tickets available to the youth of South America. Alvarez likened the effect of hosting the Games on Rio to that of the arrival of the Portuguese court in 1808, when Rio went from coastal town to the capital of an empire. She then went on to promise that the 2016 games would be the "greenest" Olympics yet and would improve Brazil's international image with their success.

¶4. (C) Though Brazil has some experience with major events such as the Pan Am Games, the Olympics will be an unprecedented challenge. The great question mark concerning Rio's selection has been the security situation, a question brought to the fore on October 17 as a gunfight between drug gangs resulted in the shooting down of a police helicopter (Ref c). MRE contacts have been defensive on security issues, telling Mission Brazil members (often without being asked) that the IOC clearly did not consider Rio's security situation inadequate. Apart from the standard MRE response, however, GOB officials have shown an understanding that security will be a serious concern for the Games. MRE political military advisor Marcos Pinta Gama suggested that the pending General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) could be followed by another arrangement to share security information for the Olympics. Alvarez went so far as to admit that terrorists could target Brazil because of the Olympics, a highly unusual statement from a government that officially believes terrorism in Brazil does not exist. The SENASP (the National Secretariat for Public Security, Ministry of Justice) has been put in charge of security for the Olympics and will be coordinating the GOB's overall on-the-ground security efforts. Rio authorities, meanwhile, expressed confidence in the impact the Favela Pacification Plan (Ref d) will have on the city's overall security. The Plan - which involves evicting drug traffickers, establishing a sustained police presence, and providing basic services to favela residents - envisions the "pacification" of over 100 favela communities by 2016 (Ref e). Internal Politics

¶5. (SBU) Even before the selection of Rio, the Lula government was hard at work to turn the decision to political advantage. Lula's chosen candidate to succeed him, Chief of Staff Dilma Rousseff, was at his side in Copenhagen for the selection, an appearance which Sport Minister Orlando Silva declared "will help Dilma's candidacy." Lula's highly visible role in lobbying for the Games is portrayed domestically as international validation of his administration and recognition of Lula as a key world player. Indeed, the reality is that much of the actual planning and preparation for Rio's bid was done by the Rio state and municipal governments. However, Rio authorities counted on Lula coming in over the top and providing the international prestige needed to win. In a recent meeting, Rio governor Cabral explained to Consul General in colorful detail Lula's tireless lobbying efforts in Copenhagen. According to Silva "The opposition will just have to swallow Lula's leadership." By claiming credit for Rio's victory, Lula seeks to bolster his already high approval ratings and then use his popularity to build support for Dilma Rousseff in the October 2010 Presidential election. As a first step, the Administration has announced a special Olympic Program for Acceleration of Growth (PAC) under Rousseff's leadership. One of Lula's signature initiatives, the PAC is a plan to use government resources to leverage private sector investment in infrastructure ( ref a). While PAC implementation has been extremely slow, the program has a positive image among Brazilians, and by putting Rousseff in the lead, Lula helps build her up as the candidate to prepare Rio for the Games.

Comment

¶6. (C) Being awarded the Olympics is seen as a major victory for Brazil in what Brazilians see as a struggle for the recognition they deserve. "We are finished being the country of the future and are the country of the present," Rousseff stated. The risk is that the GOB may choose to rest on its laurels and not get started on the work of planning the Games - Games that Lula has already dubbed a great success. Despite Rousseff's affirmation that "we have learned from the Pan Am Games," coordination for the 2014 World Cup, especially on security, lags. Attempts by Embassy personnel to establish contact with the Ministry of Sport have been refused. The GOB has articulated a vision for the Games - an Olympiad based on South American culture, openness to youth and environmentally friendly that played well in terms of domestic politics as well as appealing to the IOC. At this point, however, though state and municipal planning is moving ahead steadily, there has been little practical planning at the federal level for implementation of this grand vision. NOTE: Rio's challenges in building infrastructure and paying for the Games will be reported septel. For example, to make events more accessible to the South American public, Lula has said the GOB will distribute free tickets to the working classes and the youth of the continent. MRE admitted that there had been no thought given to how this would impact on ticket revenue projections or security, or to how the potential flow of youthful spectators across Brazil's borders would be managed. Rio also faces a host of challenges building infrastructure and paying for the Games. Lula has similarly decreed that Brazil will win more medals at the Rio Games than in the past, but there is no program in place to enhance the development of elite athletes.

¶7. (C) Brazil has shown it can host large-scale events such as the 2007 Pan Am Games, but the Olympics will present a different kind of challenge. While rejoicing in Rio's victory, the current GOB, with less than a year to go in office, seems to be taking a relaxed approach to preparation. The UK Embassy reports they have had less contact with the GOB on the Olympics than we have, even though they are eager to share lessons learned from initial planning for London 2012. While the very weak Ministry of Sport currently has the nominal lead on coordinating Olympic preparations, Mission anticipates the next Administration may organize preparations differently, perhaps through the Ministry of Planning or Casa Civil, or even establish a new agency specifically to coordinate Olympics infrastructure and security planning and logistics. Although the police and military have begun planning, the reality may well be that serious efforts await the next government, which will take office January 2011.

¶8. (C) Articulating the big picture goals and leaving details to the last minute may be a typically Brazilian approach, but could lead to problems. The delays we expect from the GOB in planning and executing the preparatory works for a successful World Cup and Olympic Games will almost certainly place greater onus on the USG to ensure that necessary standards are met. Mission Brazil has already begun coordinating among USG agencies in Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro, and has begun forward planning for the significant increases in personnel, facilities, and resources that managing U.S. involvement in the Games will require. Given the high degree of interest in the Olympics among Brazilians and the high value Brazil places on conducting a successful Games, there are already opportunities for the USG to pursue cooperation toward the Games, and to use such cooperation to further broader USG objectives in Brazil, including increased cooperation and Brazilian expertise on counterterrorism activities. As we look ahead, taking advantage of the Games to work security issues should be a priority, as should cooperation on cybercrime and broader information security (see ref B for additional areas for potential cooperation). We should also look to build in offers for dialogue on preparations for major sporting events as part of all high-level contacts with the Brazilians. KUBISKE