North American Bias Accusations Rock Figure Skating Ahead of Vancouver Olympics

Strategic Insights -

A series of private e-mails sent by a U.S. figure skating judge to his peers have ignited an international firestorm, with accusations of a North American bias against European figure skaters in the men's event. The controversy centers around the lobby being hostile to European skaters Evgeni Plushenko and Brian Joubert, two medal contenders. The e-mails, sent by Joe Inman to 60 judges and officials, aimed to remind them to accurately mark presentation scores, citing a perceived lack of transitions in Plushenko's and Joubert's routines.

Key Takeaways:

  • The e-mails sent by Joe Inman were intended as teaching tools for presentation marks, but were "twisted" to imply a hostility toward Europeans.
  • The International Skating Union introduced a new scoring system in 2005, which focuses on the quality of each element performed and the five program components.
  • The system eliminates the scoring of skaters in relation to other skaters and allows judges to focus on the program components, including transitions, interpretation, choreography, skating skills, and performance.
  • The judges' scores are awarded on a scale from 0.25 to 10, and grade of execution is awarded on a scale of up to plus or minus three points.
  • The controversy surrounds the perceived bias against European skaters, with accusations that North American judges are being overly generous with presentation marks for certain skaters.
  • Canadian skater Jamie Sale has been critical of Plushenko's skating style, stating that judges were overly generous with his presentation mark at the 2006 Games.
  • The e-mails sent by Inman were not intended to put down European skaters, but rather to remind judges to accurately mark presentation scores.

Statistics:

  • The International Skating Union introduced the new scoring system in the 2005 season.
  • The system is designed to allow judges to focus on the quality of each element performed and the five program components.
  • The system eliminates the scoring of skaters in relation to other skaters.
  • The judges' scores are awarded on a scale from 0.25 to 10.
  • The grade of execution is awarded on a scale of up to plus or minus three points.
  • The new scoring system aims to shift focus away from the judges and onto the skaters.

Sources:

  • International Olympic Committee (no date)
  • Vancouver Organizing Committee (no date)
  • International Skating Union (no date)
  • ISports: The Complete Visual Reference, Francois Fortin (2005)