Finland at the 1928 Summer Olympics

Sporting event delegation

Finland at the
1928 Summer Olympics

IOC code| FIN
NOC| Finnish Olympic Committee
Website| sport.fi/olympiakomitea (in Finnish and Swedish)
in Amsterdam
Competitors| 69 (67 men, 2 women) in 11 sports
Flag bearer | Akilles Järvinen[1]
Medals
Ranked 3rd|

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Total

Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

* 1908
* 1912
* 1920
* 1924
* 1928
* 1932
* 1936
* 1948
* 1952
* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

Other related appearances
1906 Intercalated Games

Finland competed at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands. 69 competitors (67 men and 2 women) took part in 48 events in 11 sports.[2]

## Medalists

[edit]

Team of Finland at the opening ceremony.

Further information: 1928 Summer Olympics medal table and List of 1928 Summer Olympics medal winners

Medal  | Name  | Sport  | Event  | Date

|
|
|
|

Gold | Harri Larva | Athletics | Men's 1500 m | 2 August
Gold | Ville Ritola | Athletics | Men's 5000 m | 3 August
Gold | Paavo Nurmi | Athletics | Men's 10,000 m | 29 July
Gold | Toivo Loukola | Athletics | Men's 3000 m steeplechase | 4 August
Gold | Paavo Yrjölä | Athletics | Men's decathlon | 5 August
Gold | Kaarlo Mäkinen | Wrestling | Men's freestyle bantamweight | 1 August
Gold | Arvo Haavisto | Wrestling | Men's freestyle welterweight | 1 August
Gold | Väinö Kokkinen | Wrestling | Men's Greco-Roman middleweight | 5 August
Silver | Paavo Nurmi | Athletics | Men's 5000 m | 3 August
Men's 3000 m steeplechase | 4 August
Silver | Ville Ritola | Athletics | Men's 10,000 m | 29 July
Silver | Antero Kivi | Athletics | Men's discus throw | 1 August
Silver | Akilles Järvinen | Athletics | Men's decathlon | 5 August
Silver | Kustaa Pihlajamäki | Wrestling | Men's freestyle featherweight | August 1
Silver | Aukusti Sihvola | Wrestling | Men's freestyle heavyweight | 1 August
Silver | Hjalmar Nyström | Wrestling | Men's Greco-Roman heavyweight | 5 August
Bronze | Eino Purje | Athletics | Men's 1500 m | 2 August
Bronze | Ove Andersen | Athletics | Men's 3000 m steeplechase | 4 August
Bronze | Martti Marttelin | Athletics | Men's marathon | 5 August
Bronze | Vilho Tuulos | Athletics | Men's triple jump | 2 August
Bronze | Heikki Savolainen | Gymnastics | Men's pommel horse | 8 August
Bronze | Bertel Broman | Sailing | 12 foot dinghy | 9 August
Bronze | Eino Leino | Wrestling | Men's freestyle lightweight | 1 August
Bronze | Edvard Westerlund | Wrestling | Men's Greco-Roman lightweight | 5 August
Bronze | Onni Pellinen | Wrestling | Men's Greco-Roman light heavyweight | 5 August

## Aquatics

[edit]

### Diving

[edit]

Main article: Diving at the 1928 Summer Olympics

Two divers, a man and a woman, represented Finland in 1928. It was the nation's fifth appearance in the sport as well as the Games. Both divers competed in the platform events. Onnela advanced to the final, finishing 5th; this matched the best result for a Finnish diver to date. Lampila came in 4th in his preliminary group, just outside the top 3 required to advance.

Diver  | Event  | Semifinals  | Final

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|
|

Points  | Score  | Rank  | Points  | Score  | Rank
Yrjö Lampila | Men's 10 metre platform | 21  | 72.34  | 4  | did not advance
Greta Onnela | Women's 10 metre platform | 21  | 28.00  | 3 Q | 25  | 26.00  | 5

### Swimming

[edit]

Main article: Swimming at the 1928 Summer Olympics

One swimmer, Disa Lindberg, represented Finland in 1928. It was the nation's 5th appearance in swimming as well as the Games, and the first time since 1912 Finland had sent a female swimmer. Lindberg competed in the 400 metre freestyle, placing 4th in her heat and not advancing to the semifinals.

Swimmer  | Event  | Heat  | Semifinal  | Final

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Time  | Rank  | Time  | Rank  | Time  | Rank
Disa Lindberg | Women's 400 m freestyle | Unknown  | 4  | did not advance

## Athletics

[edit]

Ville Ritola and Paavo Nurmi

Main article: Athletics at the 1928 Summer Olympics

Key

* Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
* Q = Qualified for the next round
* q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
* NR = National record
* N/A = Round not applicable for the event
* Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round

Men
Track & road events
Athlete  | Event  | Heat  | Quarterfinal  | Semifinal  | Final

|
|
|
|
|

Result  | Rank  | Result  | Rank  | Result  | Rank  | Result  | Rank
Risto Mattila | 100 metres | 11.3  | 4  | Did Not Advance
Armas Kinnunen | 1500 metres | 4:01.5  | 3  | —  | Did Not Advance
5000 metres | —  | 15:10.8  | 2  | 15:02.0  | 6
Eino Purje | 1500 metres | 4:00.8  | 1  | —  | 3:56.4  |
5000 metres | —  | 15:03.6  | 3  | DNF
Harri Larva | 1500 metres | 4:02.0  | 2  | —  | 3:53.2  |
Leo Helgas | 4:06.0  | 4  | —  | Did Not Advance
Paavo Nurmi | 5000 metres | —  | 15:08.0  | 4  | 14:40.0  |
10,000 metres | —  | 30:18.8  |
3000 metres steeplechase | 9:58.8  | 1  | —  | 9:31.2  |
Ville Ritola | 10,000 metres | —  | 30:19.4  |
5000 metres | —  | 15:10.8  | 2  | 14:38.0  |
3000 metres steeplechase | 9:46.6  | 1  | —  | DNF
Kalle Matilainen | 10,000 metres | —  | 31:45.0  | 8
Toivo Loukola | —  | 31:39.0  | 7
3000 metres steeplechase | 9:37.6  | 1  | —  | 9:21.8  |
Ove Andersen |  | 2  | —  | 9:35.6  |
Bengt Sjöstedt | 110 metres hurdles | 15.0  | 2  | —  | 15.1  | 4  | Did Not Advance
Juka Matilainen | 400 metres hurdles | 56.7  | 3  | —  | Did Not Advance
Errka Wilén | 56.5  | 2  | —  | 54.5  | 5  | Did Not Advance
Martti Marttelin | marathon | —  | 2:35:02  |
Yrjö Korholin-Koski | —  | 2:36:40  | 7
Verner Laaksonen | —  | 2:41:35  | 12
Eino Rastas | —  | 2:43:08  | 14
Väinö Sipilä | —  | 2:43:08  | 14
Ilmari Kuokka | —  | 2:46:34  | 24

Field events
Athlete  | Event  | Qualification  | Final

|
|
|

Distance  | Position  | Distance  | Position
Toimi Tulikoura | long jump | 6.91  | 18  | Did Not Advance
Ville Tuulos | long jump | 7.11  | 11  | Did Not Advance
Ville Tuulos | triple jump | 14.73  | 4  | 15.11  |
Toimi Tulikoura | triple jump | 14.70  | 5  | 14.70  | 5
Erkki Järvinen | triple jump | 14.65  | 6  | 14.65  | 6
Väinö Rainio | triple jump | 14.41  | 8  | Did Not Advance
Paavo Yrjölä | high jump | 1.77  | 19  | Did Not Advance
Armas Wahlstedt | high jump | No height  | \-  | Did Not Advance
Armas Wahlstedt | shot put | 14.69  | 5  | 14.69  | 5
Paavo Yrjölä | shot put | 14.01  | 9  | Did Not Advance
Antero Kivi | discus throw | 45.79  | 3  | 47.23  |
Eino Kenttä | discus throw | 44.17  | 6  | 44.17  | 6
Heikki Taskinen | discus throw | 43.00  | 11  | Did Not Advance
Vilho Rinne | javelin throw | 58.04  | 15  | Did Not Advance
Albert Lamppu | javelin throw | 61.45  | 9  | Did Not Advance
Paavo Liettu | javelin throw | 63.86  | 4  | 63.86  | 4
Eino Penttilä | javelin throw | 63.20  | 6  | 63.20  | 6
Erik Eriksson | hammer throw | 46.22  | 9  | Did Not Advance

Combined events – Decathlon
Athlete  | Event  | 100 m  |  LJ  |  SP  |  HJ  | 400 m  |  110H  |  DT  |  PV  |  JT  | 1500 m  | Final  | Rank

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Akilles Järvinen | Result  | 11.2  | 6.87  | 13.64  | 1.75  | 51.4  | 15.6  | 36.95  | 3.30  | 55.58  | 4:52.4  | \-  |
Points  | 857.2  | 821.15  | 830  | 748  | 879.68  | 943  | 686.12  | 649  | 850.95  | 666.4  | 7,931.500
Adjusted Points  | 765  | 783  | 706  | 585  | 745  | 751  | 604  | 431  | 672  | 604  | 6645
Paavo Yrjölä | Result  | 11.8  | 6.72  | 14.11  | 1.87  | 53.2  | 16.6  | 42.09  | 3.30  | 55.70  | 4:44.0  | \-  |
Points  | 714.4  | 784.40  | 877  | 916  | 812  | 848  | 881.44  | 649  | 854.25  | 716.8  | 8,053.290
Adjusted Points  | 643  | 748  | 735  | 687  | 667  | 641  | 707  | 431  | 673  | 655  | 6587
Armas Wahlstedt | Result  | 11.8  | 5.86  | DNF
Points  | 714.4  | 573.70
Adjusted Points  | 643  | 556
Martti Tolamo | Result  | 12.0  | 6.69  | 11.31  | 1.70  | 52.4  | 18.0  | 32.88  | 3.10  | 45.79  | 4:44.8  | \-  | 16
Points  | 666.8  | 777.05  | 597  | 678  | 842.08  | 715  | 531.46  | 541  | 581.725  | 712.0  | 6,642.115
Adjusted Points  | 605  | 741  | 565  | 544  | 701  | 501  | 521  | 381  | 527  | 650  | 5736

## Boxing

[edit]

Main article: Boxing at the 1928 Summer Olympics

Three boxers represented Finland in 1928. The sport was open to men only. It was the nation's first time competing in Olympic boxing. Two boxers, Hellström and Väkevä, advanced to the quarterfinals before being defeated; each had a first-round bye and won his second-round match. The third, Resko, did not have a bye and lost his first-round bout.

Boxer  | Event  | Round of 32  | Round of 16  | Quarterfinals  | Semifinals  | Final / Bronze match

|
|
|
|
|
|

Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Rank
Kaarlo Väkevä | Men's featherweight | Bye  |  Raúl Talán (MEX)
W points  |  Harold Devine (USA)
L points  | did not advance  | 5
Valle Resko | Men's lightweight |  Pascual Bonfiglio (ARG)
L points  | did not advance  | 17
Johan Hellström | Men's welterweight | Bye  |  Fred Ellis (RSA)
W points  |  Robert Galataud (FRA)
L points  | did not advance  | 5

## Cycling

[edit]

Main article: Cycling at the 1928 Summer Olympics

One male cyclist represented Finland in 1928. It was the nation's third appearance in the sport. Hellberg finished 10th place in the road race.

### Road cycling

[edit]

Cyclist  | Event  | Time  | Rank

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|
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Raul Hellberg | Men's road race | 5:09:14  | 10

## Equestrian

[edit]

Main article: Equestrian at the 1928 Summer Olympics

A single equestrian represented Finland in 1928. It was the nation's 3rd appearance in the sport. Von Essen placed 5th in the individual eventing, improving on Finland's best equestrian result.

### Eventing

[edit]

Equestrian  | Horse  | Event  | Final

|
|
|

Score  | Rank
Hans Olof von Essen | El Kaid | Eventing | 1924.64  | 5

## Fencing

[edit]

Main article: Fencing at the 1928 Summer Olympics

Two fencers, both men, represented Finland in 1928. It was the nation's debut appearance in the sport.

Fencer  | Event  | Round 1  | Quarterfinals  | Semifinals  | Final

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|
|
|
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Result  | Rank  | Result  | Rank  | Result  | Rank  | Result  | Rank
Torvald Appelroth | Men's épée | 2 wins  | 9  | did not advance
Lauri Kettunen | 2 wins  | 8  | did not advance
Torvald Appelroth | Men's foil | —  | 1 win  | 6  | did not advance

## Gymnastics

[edit]

Main article: Gymnastics at the 1928 Summer Olympics

Eight gymnasts, all men, represented Finland in 1928. It was the nation's 4th appearance in the sport. Nyberg-Noroma and Savolainen tied for 6th in the all-around, Finland's best individual all-around results to that point. Savolainen won a bronze medal in the pommel horse apparatus. Finland finished 5th in the team all-around.

### Artistic gymnastics

[edit]

Gymnast  | Event  | Score  | Rank

|
|
|

Kalervo Kinos | Men's all-around | 185.375  | 62
Urho Korhonen | 209.875  | 46
Jaakko Kunnas | 217.500  | 38
Mauri Nyberg-Noroma | 243.750  | 6
Heikki Savolainen | 243.750  | 6
Birger Stenman | 179.750  | 66
Martti Uosikkinen | 231.875  | 23
Rafael Ylönen | 188.750  | 61
Kalervo Kinos | Men's team all-around | 1609.250  | 5
Urho Korhonen
Jaakko Kunnas
Mauri Nyberg-Noroma
Heikki Savolainen
Birger Stenman
Martti Uosikkinen
Rafael Ylönen
Kalervo Kinos | Men's horizontal bar | 45.25  | 55
Urho Korhonen | 51.25  | 33
Jaakko Kunnas | 51.25  | 33
Mauri Nyberg-Noroma | 54.00  | 16
Heikki Savolainen | 54.50  | 13
Birger Stenman | 47.25  | 48
Martti Uosikkinen | 54.00  | 16
Rafael Ylönen | 49.50  | 39
Kalervo Kinos | Men's parallel bars | 43.75  | 49
Urho Korhonen | 46.75  | 40
Jaakko Kunnas | 49.50  | 32
Mauri Nyberg-Noroma | 53.50  | 7
Heikki Savolainen | 51.75  | 17
Birger Stenman | 43.75  | 49
Martti Uosikkinen | 51.00  | 21
Rafael Ylönen | 34.00  | 74
Kalervo Kinos | Men's pommel horse | 27.00  | 85
Urho Korhonen | 36.75  | 71
Jaakko Kunnas | 42.25  | 57
Mauri Nyberg-Noroma | 54.50  | 7
Heikki Savolainen | 56.50  |
Birger Stenman | 20.25  | 87
Martti Uosikkinen | 49.50  | 31
Rafael Ylönen | 35.00  | 72
Kalervo Kinos | Men's rings | 42.50  | 62
Urho Korhonen | 49.75  | 33
Jaakko Kunnas | 50.00  | 32
Mauri Nyberg-Noroma | 55.00  | 5
Heikki Savolainen | 53.75  | 12
Birger Stenman | 43.00  | 60
Martti Uosikkinen | 52.50  | 18
Rafael Ylönen | 45.00  | 56
Kalervo Kinos | Men's vault | 26.875  | 24
Urho Korhonen | 25.375  | 43
Jaakko Kunnas | 24.500  | 54
Mauri Nyberg-Noroma | 26.750  | 26
Heikki Savolainen | 27.250  | 16
Birger Stenman | 25.125  | 46
Martti Uosikkinen | 26.875  | 24
Rafael Ylönen | 25.250  | 45

## Modern pentathlon

[edit]

Main article: Modern pentathlon at the 1928 Summer Olympics

Three pentathletes, all men, represented Finland in 1928. It was the nation's 3rd appearance in the sport.

Pentathlete  | Event  | Shooting  | Swimming  | Fencing  | Running  | Equestrian  | Total

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|
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Rank  | Rank  | Rank  | Rank  | Rank  | Score  | Rank
Henrik Avellan | Men's individual | 31  | 17  | 16  | 15  | 4  | 83  | 15
Lauri Kettunen | 20  | 22  | 18  | 10  | 11  | 81  | 13
Tauno Lampola | 35  | 3  | 31  | 2  | 18  | 89  | 21

## Sailing

[edit]

Main article: Sailing at the 1928 Summer Olympics

One sailor represented Finland in 1928. It was the nation's 3rd appearance in the sport. Broman won the bronze medal in the 12' dinghy class, finishing 1st in two of the first four races to tie Sweden's Sven Thorell and Norway's Henrik Robert for the lead after the preliminary round (using the final round scoring system, rather than the preliminary round's point-for-place system). The other two men each won at least one of the final four races, however, and Broman did not; his two 2nd-place finishes kept him ahead of Willem de Vries Lentsch of the Netherlands.

Dinghy
Sailor  | Event  | Preliminary series  | Net points  | Prelim rank  | Final series  | Results  | Rank

|
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1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4
Bertil Broman | 12' Dinghy | 1  | 2  | 10  | 1  | 14  | 4  | 3  | 9  | 2  | 6  | 2 x 1st
2 x 2nd  |

## Wrestling

[edit]

Main article: Wrestling at the 1928 Summer Olympics

In the first year that wrestling was limited to 1 competitor per NOC per event, Finland sent 13 wrestlers—one in each event. The sport was open to men only. It was the nation's 5th appearance in the sport as well as the Games. Finland continued its strong performance in wrestling, topping the medal table for the 4th straight Olympics. Finland matched Sweden for most gold medals at 3 and more than doubled Sweden and Germany in total medals, 9 to 4.

### Freestyle wrestling

[edit]

The Finnish freestyle wrestling team had numerous Olympic veterans. Haavisto, who had taken bronze in lightweight in 1924, won gold at welterweight this time. Mäkinen, a third-time Olympian, also improved upon his 1924 medal (silver) with a gold medal in 1928. Pihlajamäki was unable to defend his 1924 gold, moving up in weight class from bantam to featherweight and moving down in medal from gold to silver. Leino received his third medal: gold in 1920, silver in 1924, and now bronze in 1928. The 1924 middleweight bronze medalist Pekkala reached the semifinals, but ultimately finished 7th because the man he lost to did not medal.

The wrestlers in the two heaviest weight classes were new Olympians. Rosenqvist lost in the first round and placed 6th in the light heavyweight. Sihvola also lost in the first round, but because his opponent went on to win the gold medal, Sihvola wrestled in—and won—the silver medal tournament.

Wrestler  | Event  | Gold medal rounds  | Silver medal rounds  | Bronze medal rounds  | Rank

|
|
|
|
|

Round of 16  | Quarterfinals  | Semifinals  | Final  | Semifinals  | Final  | Semifinals  | Final
Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result
Arvo Haavisto | Men's welterweight | Bye  |  Morris (AUS)
W |  Jourlin (FRA)
W |  Appleton (USA)
W | Already ranked  | Already ranked  |
Eino Leino | Men's lightweight |  MacKenzie (GBR)
W |  Pacôme (FRA)
L | did not advance  | Not qualified  | —  |  Nilsen (NOR)
W |
Kaarlo Mäkinen | Men's bantamweight | —  |  Sansum (GBR)
W |  Spapen (BEL)
W |  Hewitt (USA)
W | Already ranked  | Already ranked  |
Vilho Pekkala | Men's middleweight | Bye  |  Deniel (FRA)
W |  Hammonds (USA)
L | Did not advance  | Not qualified  | Not qualified  | 7
Kustaa Pihlajamäki | Men's featherweight | Bye  |  Rottenfluc (FRA)
W |  Morrison (USA)
L | Did not advance  | Bye  |  Minder (SUI)
W | Already ranked  |
Edil Rosenqvist | Men's light heavyweight | —  |  Edwards (USA)
L | did not advance  | Not qualified  | Not qualified  | 6
Aukusti Sihvola | Men's heavyweight | —  |  Richthoff (SWE)
L | did not advance  |  George (USA)
W |  Dame (FRA)
W | Already ranked  |

### Greco-Roman wrestling

[edit]

Kokkinen completed the rare feat of earning zero bad points throughout the competition, winning all 5 of his bouts by fall to earn the gold medal. Nyström took a silver medal, falling to the eventual gold medalist in the first round but managing to keep his bad points under 5 until the last round. Two veterans, Pellinen (bronze in 1924) and Westerlund (gold in 1924) earned bronze medals. Two others, Ahlfors and Toivola (each silver medalists in 1924) were unable to earn medals.

Athlete  | Event  | Round 1  | Round 2  | Round 3  | Round 4  | Round 5  | Round 6  | Round 7  | Rank

|
|
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Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result
Anselm Ahlfors | Men's bantamweight |  Gozzi (ITA)
L Decision 3pts  |  Mollin (BEL)
W Fall 3pts  |  Aria (FRA)
W Decision 4pts  |  Zombori (HUN)
L Decision 7pts  | did not advance  | —  | 8
Väinö Kokkinen | Men's middleweight | Bye  |  Johansson (SWE)
W Fall 0pts  |  Walzer (ARG)
W Fall 0pts  |  Hala (TCH)
W Fall 0pts  |  Papp (HUN)
W Fall 0pts  |  Jacobsen (DEN)
W Fall 0pts  | —  |
Hjalmar Nyström | Men's heavyweight |  Svensson (SWE)
L Decision 3pts  |  Badó (HUN)
W Fall 3pts  |  Wiesberger (AUT)
W Decision 4pts  |  Çoban (TUR)
W Fall 4pts  | Bye  |  Gehring (GER)
W Decision 5pts  | —  |
Onni Pellinen | Men's light heavyweight |  Westergren (SWE)
W Decision 1pt  |  Pohla (EST)
W Decision 2pts  |  Pētersons (LAT)
W Fall 2pts  |  Szalay (HUN)
W Fall 2pts  |  Moustafa (EGY)
L Decision 5pts  | Did not advance  | —  |
Aleksanteri Toivola | Men's featherweight |  Nolten (NED)
W Fall 0pts  |  Mollet (FRA)
W Fall 0pts  |  Malmberg (SWE)
L Decision 3pts  |  Steinig (GER)
L Decision 6pts  | did not advance  | 6
Edvard Westerlund | Men's lightweight |  Barbieri (ARG)
W Fall 0pts  | Bye  |  Pedersen (NOR)
W Fall 0pts  |  Keresztes (HUN)
L Decision 3pts  |  Massop (NED)
W Decision 4pts  |  Sperling (GER)
L Decision 7pts  |  Yalaz (TUR)
W Decision 8pts  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Flagbearers for Finland". olympedia.org. OlyMADMen. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
2. ^ "Finland at the 1928 Amsterdam Summer Games". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2010.

## External links

[edit]

* Official Olympic Reports
* International Olympic Committee results database

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