I guess lots of people who've been involved in PR events' preparation know bits and pieces of the whole charade, and it's very helpful to see all this together - confirming what we've been feeling when we used to be a part of this.

As far as I am concerned, I used to think that that was bad in Europe, because of the organization, because of some specific persons, bad communications etc - and used to think that it was better in the US or in UK for instance. And of course the events would seem much smoother there ....
When it's been the same scenario everywhere !

I can't count how many nights and days and weeks I lost in this useless and painful game, doing it for the good cause, when the whole idea was to keep me busy.

Beyond this, PR knew that most of us were a bit crossed by the way all these preparations went, and he used to have meetings (last one I've been a part of was in Amsterdam 1996, ater the event there, if my memory is right) after the tours with organizers, instructors etc, and explain us how things would improve in the future etc - and we would be glad he was aware of the problems and was going to do something at least. Of course nothing ever changed, beside some persons and procedures ... The whole idea was merely to give us some special attention, and make us ready and enthusiastic for the next chapter of that same sad game .....

This is all about plain abuse.