A new nationwide sports contest offering a major scholarship award will get underway this weekend, though many online have already compared it to the dystopian world of The Hunger Games.
Donald Trump first revealed the event in December, presenting it as part of what he described as an enormous celebration tied to America’s 250th birthday.
“Already, we’ve had big celebrations to commemorate the 250th birthdays of the Army, the Navy and the United States Marines, but there is much, much more to come,” Trump said in an announcement video at the time.
The Patriot Games are scheduled to start on Sunday, August 9, before wrapping up with a final on Tuesday, August 11. A total of 120 student athletes will take part, all competing for a scholarship worth $250,000. The competition will take place at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio.
Organizers say the competitors will battle it out across a wide range of events, from track and field to obstacle courses, along with tug-of-war, dodgeball, kickball and basketball shooting challenges. Events will also include elements from football, soccer, a revived Presidential Fitness Test, and military boot camp-style circuits.
A spokesperson for Freedom 250 described the competition as part of a broader push to celebrate the country’s milestone anniversary.
“The 2026 Patriot Games are a national athletic competition celebrating America’s next generation of leaders, competitors and champions as part of our nation’s historic 250th birthday.
“Student athletes from across the country will compete on a national stage, reaching millions of Americans through ABC and ESPN and competing for $250,000 in scholarships.
“Freedom 250 is proud to bring Americans together through unforgettable signature events — from the Freedom Trucks and July 4 celebrations to the 2026 Patriot Games — that celebrate our country and inspire the next generation.”
The competition will stream on the ESPN App and culminate with a one-hour primetime special on ESPN on ABC on Thursday, August 13. The two overall champions—one male and one female—will each receive a $125,000 college scholarship. Selected athletes and one parent or guardian will have their travel and lodging covered by organizers.
Participants, who are between 14 and 17 years old, were picked from around the country to represent their states and territories. One male and one female athlete from each state and U.S. territory will compete. That setup immediately reminded some people of the selection process in The Hunger Games, where tributes are chosen to stand for their districts.
Unsurprisingly, the concept has already drawn criticism and plenty of jokes online.
“Trump announcing the patriot games which is the same premise as The Hunger Games, how do I stop playing this game…” one person penned on X.
Another user also pointed to the similarity.
“Donald Trump announces Patriot Games. The Hunger Games what?”
Of course, most would expect the real-life version to be significantly less grim than the deadly contest shown in the Jennifer Lawrence film series. Organizers have described the event as more comparable to American Ninja Warrior and emphasized that it is a voluntary athletic competition designed to celebrate excellence and American values.
When the event was originally announced last year, Democrats also leaned into the comparison, mocking the resemblance between the Patriot Games and the fictional tournament from Suzanne Collins’ story. California Governor Gavin Newsom quoted the franchise’s catchphrase, posting “May the odds be ever in your favor” in December. They shared a scene from the movie featuring President Coriolanus Snow laying out the rules of the games.
“And so it was decreed that each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up, in tribute, one young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage, and sacrifice,” Snow says in the clip.
The post made a direct comparison between Trump and Snow.
“The lone victor, bathed in riches, would serve as a reminder of our generosity and our forgiveness. This is how we remember our past.
“This is how we safeguard our future.”
Trump previously previewed the competition and said it would be led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In his announcement video, Trump also stated there would be no transgender athletes competing in the girls’ division, saying “there will be no men playing in women’s sports.”
Whether viewers see it as patriotic competition or an awkwardly familiar concept, the event is about to begin.