I feel almost embarrassed with answering you post: as if you don't know how things work. Tech squad is in charge of levels, edge calls and ur calls. Knowing how they used this stuff at various events depending on the situation, there is quite an eligibile ground to "fear". The judges of course can manipulate with GOE (and PCS), but skaters can lose more points if they lose levels or get edge/ur calls. Plenty of representation of Russia? Who, for example? And by former SSRs you mean Georgia or Estonia or .. . Thanks for the laugh.Never fear, lets talk. There is plenty of representation from Russia and former SSRs on the judging panels, but no USA judge in Men and Ladies and no CAN judge in any event except Pairs.