1. sports
2. gymnastics

IPDGC OPTIONAL MANUAL 2013 General Information…………………………………………………………………………….3
Team / Gymnast Registration ........................................................................................................................ 3
Team Rosters ............................................................................................................................................................ 3
Competition Age ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
Eligibility .................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Divisions ................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Junior Bronze ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
Bronze ................................................................................................................................................................. 4
Silver .................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Gold ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4
High School ........................................................................................................................................................ 4
Meet Entry Fees.................................................................................................................................................. 4
Invite Meet Fees ........................................................................................................................................................ 4
Championship Fees ................................................................................................................................................... 5
Contracting / Paying Optionals Officials....................................................................................................... 5
Invite Meet Fees for Officials ................................................................................................................................... 5
Championship Fees for Officials............................................................................................................................... 5
Meet Sites ................................................................................................................................................................ 6
Future Optionals Host Sites………………………………………………………………………………………….6
ETIQUETTE/DEDUCTIONS………………………………………………………………………6
Zero tolerance………………………………………………………………..…………………………………...8
Flash Photography………………………………………………………………………………………………..8
Optionals Meets / Competitions .................................................................................................................... 9
Allowed Equipment Modifications ........................................................................................................................... 9
VAULT: .................................................................................................................................................................... 9
BARS: ....................................................................................................................................................................... 9
BEAM: ...................................................................................................................................................................... 9
FLOOR: .................................................................................................................................................................... 9
ADDITIONAL MATS / MISCELLANEOUS........................................................................................................ 10
Meet Guidelines ...................................................................................................................................................... 10
Bars .................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Host Team Responsibilities ................................................................................................................................ 10
HOSTING AT ANOTHER GYM........................................................................................................................... 11
Visiting Team Responsibilities ............................................................................................................................... 11
Meet Schedules and Format .................................................................................................................................... 11
Scheduling of the Competition Season............................................................................................................... 11
Competition and Warm-up Rotations ................................................................................................................. 11
Scoring .................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Postponing a invite Meet......................................................................................................................................... 12
Invite Meet Age Groups .......................................................................................................................................... 12
Championship AWARDS ....................................................................................................................................... 13
Registration Requirements ...................................................................................................................................... 13
Age Groups ............................................................................................................................................................ 14
Qualifying Requirements ........................................................................................................................................ 14
Individuals Qualifying to Championship .......................................................................................................................... 14
Teams Qualifying to Championship ................................................................................................................................. 14
Goody Bags: .................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Sectional / State T-Shirts: ................................................................................................................................................. 14
Recognize graduates ......................................................................................................................................................... 14
Hospitality Room:............................................................................................................................................................. 15
State Head Table………………………………………………… ………………………………………………..…14
IPDGC Optionals Manual
Updated 10/24/2013
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Welcome to the IPDGC Optional Division!
General Information
The IPDGC uses the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) and the Illinois High School
Association (IHSA) Rules and Regulations for equipment requirements, and use with IPDGC
modifications as written. You may order a rules book from:
Illinois High School Association
2715 McGraw Drive
PO Box 2715
Bloomington IL 61701
1-309-663-6377
The Optional Program consists of Five different levels: Junior Bronze, Bronze, Silver, Gold, High
School. Gymnast must compete in 4 invites to be eligible for Championship series. High School
Level gymnasts must compete in 2 invites to be eligible for the state meet. The maximum number
of gymnasts allowed to compete has been changed to 64 for a single session.
Team / Gymnast Registration
Team Rosters
Final team rosters are due December 1st to the Registration Chairperson and the Optional
Chairperson. Any gymnast not registered with the Registration Chairperson, yet competes in a
invite, will not be recognized as having competed in that meet (that meet will NOT count as a
qualifying meet for Championship meet advancement).
There is no minimum or maximum number of gymnasts per Optional Team.
Online registration is required for all meets.
Competition Age
Competition Age is the age of the gymnast on the 1st day of the Championship series (example:
Championship series start is April 28th ~competition age is as of April 28th). Please check all your
information for your gymnast so she will compete at the age appropriate group throughout the
season. The meet committee will determine the eligibility of any gymnast in question.
You may add on to the roster up until the Monday prior to your 3rd meet. Gymnast must be
registered in order to compete in invites.
Eligibility
We request that each gymnast not belong to a private club, nor participate on a club team. Open
gym and additional dance classes are allowed. Gymnasts may participate in the USA Gymnastics
program; however, a coach cannot refuse to schedule an IPDGC round meet because of USAG
and/or tumbling meets.
No Exhibition gymnasts may be used in invite meets.
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Divisions
There are 5 levels in the Optional Division. Placement in any of these divisions is determined by
averaging all-around scores from the gymnast’s previous season. If after the gymnast’s first
meet, she hits the move up score, the coach has the option to move the gymnast to the next
appropriate level. If a gymnast reaches a qualifying score twice in a competition season (prior to
the last meet), she must advance to the next level (example: Junior Bronze gymnast scores 24.7 in
the first meet and 24.8 in the second meet, for the third meet she must compete in the Bronze
division). In order for a gymnast to be moved up without hitting the move up score (event specialist
or to fill out a team) the gymnast must be moved to the higher level and compete one meet at the
higher level prior to sectionals.
Junior Bronze
This gymnast has an All-Around score of 23.99 or under. Appropriate for any gymnast new to the
conference. As a guideline, this level is appropriate for any gymnast participating in Level 2 - 4
either USAG or the IPDGC Compulsory Division.
Bronze
This gymnast has an All-Around score ranging from 24.00 – 27.99. Appropriate for any gymnast
new to the conference. As a guideline, this level is appropriate for any gymnast participating in
Level 4-5 in either USAG or the IPDGC Compulsory Division.
Silver
This gymnast has an All-Around score ranging from 28.00 – 31.49. This level is appropriate for
any gymnast competing Level 5 - 7 in USAG or the IPDGC Compulsory Division.
Gold
This gymnast has an All-Around score over 31.50. This level is appropriate for any gymnast
competing Levels 7 or higher in USAG.
High School
There is one High School division which all High School gymnast will compete in.
Meet Entry Fees
Invite Meet Fees



Invite Meet Fees are $13.00 per gymnast.
Meet fees must match the roster received by the host team by the invite deadline. There are
no refunds after the deadline date. NO EXCEPTIONS and NO SUBSTITUTIONS!
Fees can be paid up until the day of the meet. A single check must be paid before timed
warm-ups. However, in the event that a check amount is written for less than the number of
rostered gymnasts, the coach will need to cover the shortage amount and request
reimbursement by his/her park district. Unpaid gymnasts may not compete.
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Championship Fees
Each qualified gymnast will pay $8.00 for each event, with a maximum fee of $40.00. The
maximum fee includes All Around. Gymnasts that compete for team only pay $2.00 as an entry fee
and $1 per event. The maximum would be $6 – All Around is not a team only event.
Contracting / Paying Optionals Officials
Only IHSA Licensed judges should be used for all Optional Division meets. Teams will contact
their own judges for invites. Judges contracted need to be reported to the judges chair ASAP so
they can pull from that list to select judges for the State Meet
To keep judges consistent: All teams send their judges being used to Judges Chair by
November 1st. These are the judges that they will be using through the season.
Invite Meet Fees for Officials
Invites (Paid by host site) $75 minimum fee for up to 60 gymnasts. Then add $1 for each gymnast
over 60. Each additional contracted event is $25.00 (paid by host site). If a contracted judge does
not show up for a meet, that fee is to be equally divided among the other 3 judges.
Judges that drive over 40 miles round trip will receive a travel time stipend of $20 paid by the host
team. When numbers necessitate, 4 judges should be used for invites.

Total of 70 gymnasts Max for each meet unless having a double session.
If there are 2 sessions, the judges will be paid the fee of judging 2 single meets. (Fees will vary
depending on the amount of gymnasts in the session).
Only one Travel Stipend will be paid if judging 2 sessions.

When having two sessions, judges are required to have an hour break in-between
sessions
Championship Fees for Officials
Sectionals
$100.00 (paid by IPDGC)
State Meet
$110.00 (paid by IPDGC)
Meet Referee (Sectionals or State) $20.00 (paid by IPDGC)
There is no additional travel stipend for sectionals or state.
A judge should have judged one invite meet during the season to have first priority for judging the
state series. At the State Planning Meeting, coaches will vote on Meet Referee. The Meet Referee
will then assign the judges to each event.
Championship meet shall contract one judge per event for Jr. Bronze and Bronze. Championship
meet shall contract two judges per event for Silver/Gold/ High School.
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Motion to have 2 judges per event at Sectionals. Judges will judge alternately different levels
to speed up the meet. Judges will need to be the same for BOTH sectional sites to maintain
fairness. Park district must submit contracted invite judges to the judges chair by Nov 1st so
judges may be contracted.
For Championship series, each judge will be given either a themed gift or gift card not to exceed
$10. This is to be purchased by the host team. Or, the host team may opt to have $10 added to the
judge’s check. The host team must let the Budget Chair know by the State Planning Meeting which
option will be utilized. In either case, a gift or money, each judge will receive one of the two for
each meet, each day.
Meet Sites
All meet sites must be confirmed in writing to the Optionals Chairperson by NOVEMBER 1st. This
includes all invites, sectionals and state meets. Meets cannot be changed after November 1st.
Future Optionals Sectional and State Host Sites
YEAR
SECTIONAL “A”
SECTIONAL “B”
2011
2012
No Sectionals
Fox Valley (Jr B)
No Sectionals
Batavia (Br)
2013
2014
2015
2016
Bolingbrook
Downers Grove
Lemont
Itasca
Wood Dale
Carol Stream
Downers Grove
Lemont
STATE “A”
Alsip
Wood Dale (S) @
Bloomingdale
Batavia
Downers Grove
Lemont
Itasca
STATE “B”
Bolingbrook
Bloomingdale
(G/HS)
Oak Forest
Downers Grove
Lemont
Itasca
Competition Etiquette
Failure to submit team roster by meet
registration deadline or roster submission
deadline (no warnings received –
automatic fine) including invites,
sectional and state meets
$25.00 late fee payable to host team
(invites)
$25.00 late fee payable to IPDGC
(sect/state)
Failure to submit meet results to
registration chair by deadline (no
warnings received – automatic fine)
$25.00 late fee payable to IPDGC
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Questioning or trying to influence a
judge’s decision
1.0 from team total
Unauthorized person(s) on the
competition floor during the meet
0.5 from team total
Making an unauthorized approach of a
judge concerning a score or rule
infraction
1.0 from team total
Using profanity, verbally abusing, or
disrespectfully addressing a judge, meet
official, gymnast
2.0 from gymnast’s score
Unauthorized approach to the head
score table
1.0 from team total
Delaying the meet
1.0 from team total
Deliberate disruptive behavior including 1.0 from team total
taunting by team, coach, or competitor
Hair in face or brushing hair from face
.1 each occurrence
Glitter on body or hair
.1 each occurrence
Nail polish (toes or fingers)
.1 each occurrence
Tugging at leotard
.1 each occurrence
Undergarments showing
.1 each occurrence
Wearing jewelry (other than religious)
.1 each occurrence
Tattoos showing (permanent or
temporary)
.1 each occurrence
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ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY: Abusive behavior will lead to the
removal from the premises by the meet director, meet referee, or
police
Zero Tolerance: Any spectator using profanity, verbally abusing or disrespectfully addressing a
judge, meet official, parent, gymnast, coach etc. will be asked to leave the facility NO
EXEPTIONS.
Coaches shall be notified of the penalties immediately and penalties shall be filed in writing with the
head score table.
Flash Photography
Announce no flash photography and deduction rule at start of meet, also print rule in program. The
warning is the verbal announcement and program.
First Offense- Verbal warning to camera operator by meet director, coach notified
Second Offense- Written warning to camera operator by meet director, coach notified
Third Offense- Camera operator asked to put camera away, Place at head table or vehicle.
Camera operator can not use camera again until awards ceremony.
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Optional Division Meets / Competitions – Should meet IHSA Standards
See the IHSA Rule Book
Allowed Equipment Modifications
VAULT:
BARS:
-The vault table is REQUIRED for all meets.
-There is NO height requirement for the vaulting table, for Junior Bronze
through Gold.
-High School must vault at #1250 (or equivalent)
-The Junior & Intermediate springboards can be used for those
gymnasts that are under 85 pounds.
-Host team must have a tape measure at the vault.
-Host team must tie down all 4" mats
-A dock must be available at meet. When a host team does not have one,
they should contact visiting teams to make arrangements to borrow one.
-High and low bar may be raised / lowered to fit gymnast’s size.
-All cable bars must have an Extra Large width on the extenders
-Smaller gymnasts may use an extra mat. Height adapters are
recommended, but not required. You must state on your cover letter if
you do not have the height adapters. Elite bars NOT required. Bars
must be marked where they lock out.
-A vault board, block, or panel mat may be used to mount the bar.
-The height requirement is 47 ½”.
BEAM:
FLOOR:
-Smaller gymnasts may use skill cushions under the beam. The beam
must be at chest level height for smaller (younger) gymnasts with the
use of skill cushions and boards if necessary.
-The skill cushion does not have to cover the entire length of the beam. --The required mats under the beam must be the entire length of the beam.
-Host team must supply needed skill cushion(s). Borrow mats if you need
to.
-Host team must supply stopwatch to time the routines.
-TIMES: not to exceed 1:30 minutes.
A warning signal shall be given at 1:20 minutes, and time
called at 1:30 minutes
-The dimensions of the padded competitive floor with carpet and foam
area shall be 40’ x 40’, clearly marked with solid lines centered in an
area of at least 45’.
-The competitive area must be a smooth surface
-The foam shall be at least a 1” thickness for the spring floor.
-TIMES: 1:00 to 1:30 minutes. A warning signal shall be given at 1:20
minutes, and time called at 1:30 minutes.
-Host team must supply stopwatch to time the routines.
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ADDITIONAL
MATS /
MISCELLANEOUS
-Hosting teams must supply at least one skill cushion, with two to four
skill cushions being desirable to keep the meet moving. The preferred
size of the skill cushion is 8 inches, however, it can be as large as 12” if
preferred size is not available. Smaller children must have a skill
cushion under the beam for the chest height requirement, or the beam
will have to be lowered.
-Sting mats are allowed at all 4 events. The visiting team(s) must bring
their own sting mat if they wish to use one – the host team is not required
to supply the sting mats.
-A plywood board may be used under the spring board for mounts.
-All landing mats should be secured to the equipment for safety reasons.
For the safety of the gymnast a 30 sec touch is up to the discretion of the Host team. Need to inform the judges if you are going to allow this and gymnast would be limited to the following : 1 Vault, 1 tumble pass on floor, Mount‐trick‐dismount on Bars/Beam. **This needs to be in the meet packet if you are going to do this at your invite.** Meet Guidelines
Additional details are itemized in the General Section of this manual. This area covers topics
specific to the Optional Division.
Bars
Bar Setting times should be made available before timed warm-ups begin, with a minimum of 5
minutes and a maximum of 30 minutes. For the State Series, it is recommended to allow 45
minutes.
Host Team Responsibilities
It is the host team’s responsibility to call the visiting team’s supervisor if the visiting team’s
coach does not turn in their roster by the Due Date. The host team may have a theme or go above
and beyond the “traditional invite” meet by offering themes, different awards, have competition
extras (best leap, best dance, etc). The host team may not charge more than the current invite meet
fees. At the sign up, a team must stipulate if their meet will vary from the traditional set up.
The team hosting a meet must abide by the responsibilities listed in the Host Team Meet
Responsibilities specified in this manual.
Hosting teams must meet the IHSA Equipment Safety Requirements as per the IHSA Rules
Book. Any changes to the rules will be noted in the IPDGC Manual and Rule Book. If a team
cannot meet these requirements, they must host at a gym that does.
HOSTING TEAM must accept Responsibilities as listed in this manual. A team may co-host with
another team, or host at another gym to fulfill their hosting needs.
Meet results must be submitted within 3 days to the Qualifying Chair. A $25 fine will be assessed
for not fulfilling this requirement. Each team should receive a hard copy of meet results at the end
of the meet – unless other arrangements are made.
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HOSTING AT ANOTHER GYM
A team may use another team’s gym in order to host a invite meet. If a team must host at another
gym, they will be responsible for hosting the meet as if it were in their own gym.
The gym site must make it known in writing in advance what costs must be covered at their own
gym, and what rules must be followed for safety reasons and for care of equipment.
The gym site team must fill out a contract form and send it to the hosting team one month before
the competition. Both teams must agree to the terms of the contract it and sign it. Any
discrepancies must be referred to the Board.
Visiting Team Responsibilities
Each team must bring their own score sheets (on WHITE paper) with gymnast name and number
filled out at the top. Also, provide each judge with an “Order of Events” sheet. Blanks of these
forms can be found on the IPDGC site.
Each team is required to bring their own springboard, Junior Board, and sting mats (as needed) to
keep the competition running smoothly. If, for some reason, you cannot bring a board, call in
advance to let the host team know.
Coaches cannot recheck all bar settings during meet. If rechecking a bar setting becomes
necessary, please ask the Meet Director to talk to the judge about checking a bar setting.
If your team uses CD-R’s to record music, please also bring a cassette tape “backup” of each
competitors floor routine music in the event that the host teams’ audio system will not play CD-R’s.
An alternative would be to bring your own CD player which will accept CD-R’s.
Meet Schedules and Format
Scheduling of the Competition Season
At the Fall Meeting, teams will sign up (pre-register) for the invite meets they will compete in.
Four weeks before the invite meet or final registration deadline set by the host team, the reserved
spots will expire for pre-registered teams if they have not registered. At this time (if open spots are
available), any team is then able to sign up for the meet. Registration will close to everyone no later
than 2 weeks before the meet date.
Competition and Warm-up Rotations
The meet rotation will be determined during the coaches/judges meeting by drawing numbers, and
not assigned prior to the meet. The rotation for warm ups will be same for competition. However,
the host team may make pre-determined grouping for rotations, but the draw will still occur before
warm ups. At the Championship meet this same format MUST be used.
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Scoring
The final Team Score will determined by adding the top four (4) scores per event (not including
All-Around), per level. Therefore, the maximum total per event per team is 40.0 points (160.0
points total). If a team has less then 4 scores, but is within range, they may be ranked for a team
score. This applies to invites and sec/state meets.
If there is a tie for the 4th highest score, only one of those scores shall count towards the team total.
In the event of a tie, the tie shall stand. If there is a tie at 3rd place, the next lower award given shall
still be 4th place ~ the IPDGC does not “skip” a place.
Use separate sheets for different age groups, different levels, and team scores.
Postponing A Meet
If a meet must be POSTPONED due to an “Act of God”, the hosting team must call the
Registration/Qualification Chairperson and Optional Chairperson to let them know when the meet
will be made up.
Invite Age Groups
The host team will make up age groups with no more than 10 gymnasts in each group and not to
exceed two years (9,10,11; 7,8,9) in age differences in each age group.
Awards
For all Invite Meets, the host team will provide ribbons for all gymnasts in all events and allaround in their respective age groups. 1st through 10th place ribbons must be provided and handed
out according to the Awards section of this chapter. Please note, if a team is hosting a
“themed/specialized meet”, different awards may be presented. The awards must be a minimum of
a ribbon on all events.
Awards shall be given out at the end of the meet. All competitors receive event and All-Around
ribbons in their respective age groups. Only ribbons are allowed at invite meets, unless otherwise
specified. 1st – 10th place awards will be handed out and announced for each age group and each
event. Each gymnast will take their place on the awards stand, and will then stand present behind
the awards stand ready to receive her award for the next event.
Awards that are not available at the meet should be sent within 30 days of the scheduled meet.
Awards mailed should be marked with gymnast’s name and event.
For all meets, results should be announced in Olympic order: Vault, Bars, Beam, Floor, and finally
All-Around. Each age group should be called up individually. All events placed should appear on
score sheet for ease of reading and recording.
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SECTIONALS/CHAMPIONSHIP
Base Scoring for Bronze, Silver, Gold, High school: Send a JV from high school for a base
score to perform their routine for each event. They will perform this routine in between
warm-ups and march in.
CHAMPIONSHIP ALLSTAR AWARDS
Each gymnast who scored the highest per event including all around will receive an award
(Per level)
CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS
The host sites are to order their own awards. It is required that host sites place one combined order,
then divide up the necessary awards to cover the sites. Crown Trophy in Buffalo Grove is the
exclusive supplier to IPDGC for the awards. Artwork must be submitted to Crown one month prior
to each series - phone: (847) 808-9706, attention Charlene. All orders must have a quote sent to the
Budget Chair. The current host team, upcoming host team and Optional Chair must have an
accurate inventory count of what arrives and what is left. All must sign off on this inventory before
it’s passed on.
CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS
Team Awards: 1st through 4th place receive team medals. The individual must be at the
meet to receive the award.
Individual Awards:
Individual Events: 1st through 10th place receive neck medals. All other participants will
receive a participation ribbon.
All Around: 1st through 5th place receive trophies
6th through 10th place receive medals with matching drape
ribbon to the places of individual event medals.
All state participants will receive a Championship neck medal
Registration Requirements
Qualifying Teams will sign and fax their final team roster to the Qualifying Chair. Team qualifiers
up to ten (10) per event.
.
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Age Groups
The age groups will be determined after invites to distribute the gymnasts as equally as possible.
The Championship Series Committee will consist of divisional Chairperson, Qualifying Chair and
the host teams.
Qualifying Requirements
Individuals Qualifying to Championship Meet
To qualify to the championship meet the gymnast must have participated in four invite meets and
must compete on an event at least 3 times. After competing in four invite meets, that gymnast then
qualifies as an All-Around Gymnast and/or on individual event(s).
Junior Bronze’s last meet will be Sectionals. They will receive an All-star Sectional Award at
this meet. Each gymnast who scored the highest per event including all around will receive
this award.
A gymnast may be petitioned into the qualifying state by submitting a letter to the Optional
Chairperson. The petitioning gymnast must then be approved by a majority of divisional teams, as
voted on.
Teams Qualifying to Championship
The top teams will automatically qualify for State (the team score is determined by adding the top 4
scores for each event, not including the All-Around).
A gymnast is competing for Team Score Only, must have competed that given event at an invite
meet 3 times during the current season and should have competed in 4 invite meets during the
season..
Goody Bags:
Voted to have the individual team coaches make up goody bags for their own teams if they would
like. Conference will not supply any goody bags. A host team may contact Ten-O and request
meet bags (bag with catalog) and pass out.
T-Shirts:
State hosts should coordinate the sale of T-shirts to all teams. Host teams must agree how profits
will be split – Suggestions: either the ordering team keeps profit, it’s split 50/50 or each team keeps
profit per site.
Recognize graduates:
Flowers will be used to recognize graduates. It is the responsibility of the host team to provide the
flowers. Teams must list graduates are on their rosters. The conference will reimburse the host
team.
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Hospitality Room:
The IPDGC Conference will sponsor the Coaches / Judges Hospitality room. $7 per coach/judge per
meet day is the budget. The number of coaches attending will need to be given to the host team. If
you must go over budget, please contact the Budget Chair before hand.
Championship Head Table:
Leah Fay will run the Head Score Table at the Championship Series. The Conference will pay her
$200 per meet, per day. Please provide 2 tables and access to a power outlet.
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