Four pairs stood on their respective stages, with a referee for each stage, to make sure that the students would follow the rules properly and also to make sure that the students wouldn't hurt each other badly.
The academy is well aware of the rumours that were spreading in the academy. They knew that some of the students were well aware of the crisis that was coming.
Though there was a gag order from the higher-ups, they were the first ones who should have broken the order. Even though they might order not to spread the news to avoid mass panic, they are still human and would do things that are beneficial to them and their families in the end.
This is to be expected, unless they have no one that they care for.
Since there are rumours, some smart ones should have already figured out the situation, even without any information from their families, in addition to the ones that were informed by their families.
