What is the penalty for starting a routine before the salute?

Initiating a gymnastics routine before performing the required salute incurs a penalty of 0.5. The salute serves as an essential part of a gymnast's performance, marking the official beginning and end of their routine. It demonstrates respect for the judges and the audience, as well as adherence to competition protocols. Failing to execute this salute before starting the routine disrupts the flow of the performance and indicates a lack of preparedness or disregard for the competition's standards. Therefore, the penalty of 0.5 reflects the importance of this aspect in judging a gymnast's performance.