Anti-Olympic Protests Focus on Easy Hits

Posted on February 23, 2010 by Wellesley Consulting Services

A massive police and security presence in the Vancouver and Whistler areas has virtually eliminated any significant protest actions by anti-games groups. As a result, much of the protest activity against the 2010 Vancouver Olympics has been occurring far away from the Greater Vancouver Area.

Royal Bank's branches in Southern Ontario have been targeted by anti-Olympic protests, well away from the glaring focus on Vancouver. Photo: WELLESLEY CONSULTING SERVICES

Olympic resistance blogs have reported “direct actions” such as vandalism of Royal Bank of Canada branches in Guelph, some 3,300 km away. RBC is one of the high profile corporate sponsors of the 2010 games, and according to a statement posted on a website Sunday, one of their Guelph branches was the target of “sabotage” when the keyhole and ATM slots were filled with glue.

The alleged vandalism reportedly occurred on February 16, only a few days after another RBC branch, in Waterloo, was the target of a banner unveiling by games protesters. In that incident, a large banner was unfurled from the roof of an RBC branch on the same day as a protest billed as a “heart attack” for the downtown Vancouver arteries occurred.

According to media reports, activists in Vancouver are not united in their approach to anti-games protests, perhaps due in part to fragmentation of diverse political and social agendas and interests. Some violence was reported during the first few days of the games, but overall the type of backlash against the games has not resulted in the scale of mayhem seen at other large events in the past, such as the APEC summit, or the infamous Seattle anti-globalisation protests that marred the 1999 World Trade Organization summit.

There appears to be a trend now in protesters selecting “soft” targets: in this case, those that rest far away from the centre of the action and security activity, yet that have a large enough backdrop to draw some attention to their message.

Guelph and Waterloo are just about an hour’s drive from Canada’s largest municipality, and well within gaze of mainstream media. The cities are large enough to have a presence of all of the major Olympic sponsors, and certainly there is no shortage of RBC branches in those, and other communities.

While none of the protests would have impacted the bank significantly, the selection of targets should at least grab the attention of corporate security leaders, looking to maintain vigilance across the board.

Protesters, Security Headed For Olympic Faceoff

Posted on February 3, 2010 by Wellesley Consulting Services

It now appears inevitable that there will be a significant faceoff between anti-Olympic protest groups, and security officials, on or before the opening of the games just ten days from now, and throughout the period the games are underway.

Several recent media stories from various outlets have reported interviews with members of various anti-games groups, not surprisingly, many of whom are locally-based Lower Mainland residents and students, as well as representatives of local native groups.

Advocating “direct action” prominently is the group No2010.com, who have as one of their most persistent grievances as being against the establishment of a “police state” in the Vancouver and Whistler areas during the period of the 2010 winter games. he group regularly issues news releases highlighting protests and disruptions to pre-games events, such as the torch relay.

Members of the Olympic Resistance Network has also been featured in interviews with media, including 35 year old UBC student Melissa Westergard-Thorpe, who told the Vancouver Sun last month that the ORN and other groups plan to converge on the Opening Ceremonies on February 12, and that she “hope(s) it goes down like APEC” referring to the summit several years ago which saw several protesters pepper-sprayed by RCMP officers.

Original security plans to have protesters make their statements from secure, safe “protest zones” were abandoned when it was clear that groups like ORN were not going to bow down to pressure from the police, and Charter issues were raised, such as freedom to assemble and freedom of expression.

Security has now taken the approach that protests may occur anywhere outside of a proverbial “wire” of security around Olympic venues and other areas, but not inside.

Establishing a perimeter has in the past simply given protest groups a goal to achieve: breaching the line.

Inflammatory rhetoric abounds on protest blogs and websites, and an increase in anti-games grafitti and presence of apparently hard core protesters at recent events indicates that the “anti” groups are preparing for a showdown. One specific tactic the ORN and others have been quite public about is a plan to clog the downtown core of Vancouver with marches on opening ceremony day, and a “heart attack” – clogging the “arteries of capitalism” – the following day.

In anticipation of US protesters and sympathizers crossing the border in British Columbia, the ORN has offered helpful advice to Americans coming to support the anti-games movement, such as:

Knowing where you will be staying in Canada, but beign careful not to identify any housing provided by ORN members
Buy a hockey jersey to “blend in” with Olympic tourists, don’t look like an activist
Don’t bring electronics or laptops that may contain “sensitive material” as it may be searched
Be ready to provide border agents with names and details of events you plan to attend – the ORN provides a list of free ones, which provide an excuse for travelling to the Vancouver area

Both the activists and the police are engaged in a controlled, targeted mass media and marketing war.

Yesterday, the CBC News reported on the anticipated delays at event entrances due to the “airline-level security”, which were evident after a mock line-up conducted by the VANOC during a public demonstration of security procedures.

Some of the “no go” security items are common to those attending sports stadiums already, but others on the list have a deliberate intent and message to the activist set.

For example, items with political messages are nixed, as are flags for non-participating nations. This would effectively include the Mohawk Nation flag which increasingly appears at anti-capitalism and anti-globalization rallies, as well as anything bearing a brand or logo of a non-sponsoring or sponsoring organization.

“Ambush marketing” materials are also banned, which means protesters with valid tickets who enter to distribute leaflets against the games would be shown the door.

In a matter of days “the games will begin” – both the winter olympics, and the potential contact

Countdown to the Games

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Wellesley Consulting Services

The pieces of olympic security are moving into place; are there terrorists also playing the game? Image: WELLESLEY CONSULTING SERVICES

It is now less than two weeks before the world turns its attention on Vancouver and surrounding area, and the 2010 Olympics.

All of the security exercises are completed. Marine security zones are in place. CF-18 fighters are conducting low-flying familiarization flights. And, thousands of police officers and contract security guards are moving into position, and receiving briefings.

On paper, the security is overwhelming. And, none of it will stop a dedicated terrorist group intent on causing chaos or disruption to the 2010 Olympic Games.

And the million dollar question that no one has the answer to is: will it happen?

Despite the best efforts of intelligence and security agencies it is impossible to predict with reliability the intentions of groups, known and unknown. The approach the used by security forces then is to prepare for every eventuality, through planning, training and practice.

If there is a planned attack, what is almost certain is that any group or persons responsible will also have spent the last year or more planning, training and practicing. They too are moving the pieces into place, testing and probing, and searching for weaknesses to exploit.

What won’t be publicly made known until after the games, if at all, is whether any of those pieces have been swept off the board by security forces conducting background checks and quietly going about their business of coordinating security.

According to one recent CBC News story, over 100,000 background checks have been performed by the RCMP Integrated Security Unit, which was established to oversee games security, and about 1,000 of those checks resulted in a denial of security clearance.

An especially difficult challenge rests on border officials, who must balance a welcoming and receptive tone to genuine olympic tourists, staff and visitors, and temper it with a critical and wary sceening for security threats, migration integrity concerns, and other serious matters – disease or health risks, for example – for which they may be the first line of defence.

With the countdown to the games nearing zero hour, all one can ask is: are we prepared enough for everything?

Security Still Needs Work Ahead of Olympics

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Wellesley Consulting Services

The recent attempt by a Nigerian national to detonate an explosive device on board an aircraft shortly before landing in Detroit will put a renewed focus on security measures relating to the world’s next high-profile event: the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Canadian airports are experiencing increased security measures on flights to the U.S. following a Christmas day terror attempt. Photo: WELLESLEY CONSULTING SERVICES

Thousands of people from around the globe will arrive in the west coast Canadian city in the days before the major sporting event, which begins February 12. Many will travel directly to Vancouver’s international airport, or will arrive there after transiting through cities like Toronto, Calgary, and Seattle.

Security screening for flights arriving in th U.S. have been significantly stepped up following the Christmas day attempted terror attack, which occurred on a Northwest Airlines flight originating in Amsterdam. It is believed that the alleged attacker attempted to detonate PETN, a type of explosive, that had been concealed in his underwear. Passengers on board the aircraft intervened when the explosive failed, starting a fire on the assailants lap.

In Canada, police resources – which in many communities are already stretched due in particular to RCMP officers being reassignmented to olympic and G8/G20 security teams – are now being dedicated to assist with passenger screening for flights bound to the U.S. , according to CBC News reports. No target date has been set to scale back the additional resources, but it is unlikely to last because the officers will likely need to be deployed to B.C. during the winter olympics.

What is clear from the recent terror attempt is that a trained and equipped operative was able to board an aircraft and attempt to detonate a bomb, despite several risk factors being identified to authorities. The event also came despite already stringent flight security measures having been in place since the 2001 attempted in-flight bombing by Richard Reid, which involved the same type of explosive, and the 2006 airline terror plot uncovered by UK police which led to a ban on liquids in aircraft nearly worldwide.

Even more troubling is that the group claiming responsibility for the recent attempt on the Detroit-bound flight has also claimed to have trained several other operatives to conduct attacks in the future, according to some media reports.

With only a few short weeks to go before the world turns their attention on Canada and the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, the focus on air travel security is becoming more intense as authorities wait to close the next security gap.

Toronto to Host G20 in 2010

Posted on December 7, 2009 by Wellesley Consulting Services

Toronto is now confirmed as the site of the G20 summit next year. Image: WELLESLEY CONSULTING SERVICES

The Prime Minister’s Office has confirmed that Toronto will be the location of the G20 summit next June.

The summit, which will run June 26 and 27, was originally to have been held in Huntsville, the location of the next G8 summit the same month.

The relocation of the G20 summit is expected to have significant security requirements and a noticeable impact on residents in Canada’s largest city. During the 1988 G7 summit, which was also held in Toronto, security was handled by the RCMP and Toronto Police, involving hundreds of officers, patrolling helicopters, motorcades, road closures and logistics.

Next years’ summit is expected to be larger than the Pittsburgh G20 summit, held earlier this year, and according to some sources required 4,000 rooms for accommodating leaders, staff, media, and other personnel.

Large summits also give an opportunity to showcase the latest in security technology, and the Toronto G20, as well as the Muskoka G8, are expected to be no different. Toronto has already implemented CCTV monitoring in key public areas, and partner agencies have already tried and tested personnel screening technology such as “see through” X-ray scanners, which are already being implemented in Canadian airports.

Security is expected to be coordinated by the G8 Integrated Security Unit (ISU), an RCMP, OPP and military partnership modelled after the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics ISU.

No location has been announced for the Toronto G20, although it is likely a single facility will be chosen for the majority of the events. The Metro Toronto Convention Centre was the host of the 1988 G7 summit, and could likely reprise its role. It is a large facility located downtown in close proximity to major hotels and has ready access to highways and downtown transit networks.

The Canadian National Exhibition grounds have both the Direct Energy Centre and the newer, 160,000 sq. ft. Allstream Centre, both of which are capable of hosting large events, and can be isolated to enhance security.

The CNE grounds also have an advantage of being located close to the Billy Bishop Airport, located on Toronto Island, and two military establishments located nearby can provide support and facilities for security personnel.

Finally, Downsview Park – also located in proximity to an airport, which occupies the same site – is another possible location for the summit. Security requirements would be made simple, since it is a former military base, and military facilities still exist there. While the facility lacks indoor conference space, several large events have been held there in the past that required temporary facilities built, including World Youth Day in 2002.

Protester presence could be very high, since isolation of the G8 site in Huntsville may result in protest groups choosing a more accessible and more impactful site to carry out demonstrations. Toronto has the largest population in Canada, is an hour from the U.S. border, and is an air travel hub.