ABSTRACT
Why a project fails despite good intentions and enthusiastic support might have more than
one explanation. Some explanations are obvious and hence acknowledged by all stakeholders
involved; others are less obvious and might not be recognized by the participating actors. The
literature on event management tends to focus on “the good ones” and eventually presents
strategies or guidelines that will foster success (i.e. Shone & Perry, 2001). Ultimately,
stories on failure are equally important to understand. In the following section, we present
the project story in five parts. As stated above, the story is based on the interviews accounts
and it aims for an objective and politically neutral representation of the events, rather than a
representation of conflicting interpretations, individual beliefs or personal motives.
