politics are only a problem if a) you let them get in the way and b) you pay attention to them.
Back stabbing and such like you said happens everywhere, has happened in every job ive been in including the raf but, those people doing the back stabbing will soon get the point as lets face it you know the type of people and there only after attention, you take the attention away...look what happens.
I dont know in depth the political side of paintball nor do i care to know. I can appriciate the higher up in tournament organisation you go you come across more problems, but i was still surprised the pm's i reicieved about the forum battle, telling me this and that, took me al of 3 seconds to delete them.
Raffles my friend, your young uns tournament sounds a awesome idea and if you wish to persue it futher i'd be happy to help in anyway...even if its deleting the politics