Inside Donald Trump's 'Hunger Games'-style athletics contest
US President Donald Trup has pitted 120 students from the 50 states, territories and some Native American nations against each other to win a college scholarship.
In the Patriot Games 2026, 120 students from across the US, its territories, and some tribal nations will vie for a $US125,000 ($177,449) college scholarship. Competitors were chosen through a 5-minute video application and personal essay submissions. Anderson Reid, representing Puerto Rico, was among them, despite not actually residing in the state he represents. The event, announced by President Donald Trump in December 2025, is being held in Ohio to commemorate the United States' 250th anniversary.
The games, dubbed as a "Hunger Games"-style competition, drew comparisons to the popular book and film series. Participants were selected without traditional qualifying rounds, but rather through a video application process. Chris Brennan, representing North Carolina, discovered the contest on Instagram and submitted a 5-minute video application. He then wrote an essay and answered personal questions before advancing to the next round.
The competition includes various athletic events, such as dodgeball, kick ball, and a military-style bootcamp obstacle course. The top male and female athletes will share a $US125,000 university scholarship. However, some competitors, like Reid, have pointed out that participants do not necessarily have to live in the state they represent, as long as they have some sort of association, such as family ties or residency.
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