How the new team figure skating event works

Figure skating finally has a new twist.

A team figure skating event debuted in Sochi on Thursday, with 10 nations vying for a spot on the podium. Here's how the competition works:

In each round, the teams field a single entry from each of the four events: men’s, women’s, pairs and ice dancing. Skaters compete a short program in the opening round. The winner of each event gets 10 points. Second place gets nine points, third gets eight, and so forth, finishing with a single point for last place.

Once all events in the first round are completed, the point totals are added up. The top five nations will proceed to the second round, when a free program is skated. The remaining teams have the option of two substitutions.

The same scoring rules apply in the second round. The highest combined score from both rounds determines the gold-medal winner.

The new event has come under some criticism.

Some think it’s a desperate attempt by the IOC to squeeze another event from the popular sport. Others believe that some teams won’t field their top skaters, opting to save them for their individual or pairs events. (After all, the team event only counts as a single medal.)

Canada's Patrick Chan skated in the first round, though it's widely assumed he'll be replaced by Kevin Reynolds for the final round, provided Canada qualifies. Halfway through the first round, Canada sits in second place overall.

Of course, there’s also the possibility of a skater getting injured in the team event, putting his or her other medal hopes in jeopardy.