Instant Access To 100,000+ Essays!

Legitimate or Illegitimate Judging? Some viewers of ice skating say judges score on a reasonable basis, but the majority sees the system as completely unacceptable. It is only safe to say “reasonable” because there are many different cultures in the world that do not think exactly like Americans. Nor do they have the same taste. In that sense, they observe with a diverse pair of ordinary eyes. These eye magnets do not intentionally, but habitually judge on what they believe is gold- medal material. Are judges still considered the innocent ones when caught on tape giving sketchy glances to one another? The difference of opinion and style of judging, is based primarily on background. Artistry is huge in some cultures, but not so significant in others. Obviously, it also varies in style from country to country. Russian and Eastern Europeans tend to lean more towards ballet and presentation, while many Westerners feel that flawless lifts, jumps, and twirls are essential. Many judges like to see figure skaters having “control” over their routine. Some traditional judges have backgrounds in music or theatre, meaning they are more inclined to look into those areas.