Voluntary Teen Competition & Scholarship Event

President Donald Trump’s upcoming Patriot Games are already drawing comparisons to The Hunger Games, with critics likening the nationally televised event to the dystopian franchise’s competition between teenagers from across the country.

Unlike the fictional contest, however, the Patriot Games are a voluntary athletic competition that will bring high school students ages 14 to 17 together to compete in military-inspired challenges, traditional sports and obstacle-course events for a share of a $250,000 scholarship prize pool.

Scheduled for Aug. 9 to 11 at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio, the competition is part of the broader Freedom 250 celebration marking America’s 250th anniversary. Organizers said the event will test strength, endurance, agility, teamwork and strategy through challenges inspired by football, basketball, soccer and track, along with a military-style boot camp circuit. Coverage will stream on the ESPN App before culminating in a one-hour primetime special Aug. 13 on ABC.

Trump first announced the Patriot Games in 2025, describing them as a way to celebrate athleticism, patriotism and the next generation of Americans. While comparisons to The Hunger Games have fueled conversation online, organizers said the competition is closer in spirit to shows like American Ninja Warrior and American Gladiators—emphasizing voluntary participation, teamwork and athletic achievement over elimination-style drama.

Here’s what families, service members and military communities should know before the games begin.

What Are the Patriot Games?

The Patriot Games are one of several signature events planned as part of Freedom 250, the nonprofit organization leading public celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary.

The competition is designed to showcase outstanding high school students from across the United States through a series of athletic challenges intended to test not only physical ability but also leadership, resilience and teamwork.

Athletes will arrive in Ohio on Aug. 7 and 8 before competing the two following days. Rather than participate in full-length football or basketball games, competitors will face shorter, made-for-television events that organizers said combine traditional American sports with obstacle-course challenges and a military-inspired boot camp circuit.

Events are expected to test strength, speed, agility, endurance, strategy and problem-solving. Organizers said that athletes’ application videos will help introduce competitors and tell their stories throughout the broadcast.

Two overall champions—one male and one female—will each receive a $125,000 college scholarship, for a total scholarship pool of $250,000. Travel and lodging for each selected athlete and one parent or guardian will also be covered.

Who Can Compete?

Applications are now open through the Patriot Games online submission portal.

To be eligible, students must:

• Be at least 14 years old by June 1, 2026.
• Be 17 or younger as of Dec. 31, 2026.
• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Live in a U.S. state, territory or tribal nation.
• Be a student in good academic standing.

Applicants are also asked to share connections to other states or territories, including military, family, cultural or community ties.

Organizers said one male athlete and one female athlete will ultimately be selected to represent each participating state or territory.

Parents or legal guardians must approve the application and agree to accompany selected competitors if chosen. Finalists will also be subject to background checks and additional eligibility verification before the competition.

How Do Students Apply?

In addition to completing the online application, prospective competitors must submit a one- to two-minute introduction video through an unlisted YouTube link.

Rather than simply highlighting athletic accomplishments, organizers encourage applicants to explain why they want to compete, how sports have shaped them, and what earning a Patriot Games scholarship would mean for their future.

Students selected for the competition should also be prepared to commit up to seven days for travel, registration, filming and participation in the event. Parents and guardians must agree to media release forms allowing Freedom 250 to use competitors’ names, likenesses, voices and submitted materials in promotional and broadcast content related to the Patriot Games.

The application also includes a note for student-athletes who compete in high school sports. Organizers advise applicants to consult their state’s athletic association before accepting scholarship money, noting that amateur eligibility rules vary by state and could affect future participation.

Although applications are now open, organizers have not announced when the submission window will close. Interested students can apply through the official Patriot Games website.

Why Are People Comparing It to ‘The Hunger Games’?

The comparison stems largely from the event’s premise.

Teenagers from across the country will apply for a chance to represent their home states in a nationally televised competition, leading some critics online to liken the concept to Suzanne Collins’ bestselling Hunger Games novels and the blockbuster film franchise.

The similarities, however, largely end there.

Unlike the fictional games, participation in the Patriot Games is voluntary, centered on athletic competition and designed around scholarship opportunities rather than elimination. Organizers said the inspiration comes less from dystopian fiction than from competition series such as American Ninja Warrior and American Gladiators.

Actor Dean Cain, who competed on American Gladiators and is helping promote the Patriot Games, dismissed the online comparisons in an interview with the New York Post.

“We’re not going to kill anybody,” Cain said. “People are actually asking to be there. We don’t ask for tribute.”

Instead, he described the competition as an opportunity to encourage physical fitness, teamwork, patriotism and healthy competition while giving teenagers the chance to earn college scholarships.

The event is shaping up to be one of the highest-profile celebrations tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary. For families with aspiring student-athletes, applications are already underway. Organizers hope the competition will introduce millions of viewers to America’s next generation of leaders, competitors and champions.