Who should the research paper be submitted to before competing?

Submitting the research paper to event personnel before competing ensures that the paper adheres to the event's guidelines and standards. Event personnel are responsible for overseeing the competition and ensuring that all entries meet specific requirements, such as format, content, and adherence to the competition rules. By reviewing the paper, they can verify that it is suitable for presentation and does not violate any regulations. This step is crucial as it can help prevent disqualification and facilitate a smoother competition experience. Other options like judges, other competitors, or the audience wouldn't be appropriate recipients for initial submission, as they play different roles in the competition process and their reviews would not ensure compliance with event standards.