 Specifically, the 1997 competition was used as the test event for the switch from the "best of majority" ordinal system to the "one-by-one" method; the 2002 event was used for an initial test of the ISU Judging System which was then under development, and the 2003 event was the first competition where that system was used to determine the official results; and the 2006 event was used for a trial of using separate panels of judges for technical elements and program components.The competition also serves as a testing ground for judges working towards international status.The 2009 competition was used as the final qualifying opportunity for the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2013 event served the same purpose for the 2014 Olympics and the 2018 Olympics.