Trump-Backed Patriot Games Spotlight Youth Athletics for America’s 250th Anniversary

The Patriot Games ran from August 9-11, 2026 at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio. One male and one female athlete from each of the 50 states, U.S. territories and tribal nations competed in dodgeball, kickball, tug-of-war, a 100-meter dash and a military-style obstacle course. The final day crowned a male and a female champion, each receiving a $125,000 college scholarship.

The Hill

Freedom 250, a public-private partnership created during the Trump administration, organized the games as part of the nation’s 250th-birthday celebrations. The initiative follows other Freedom 250 events—including a UFC fight on the White House lawn and an IndyCar street race in Washington, DC—held during a July 4 summer of spectacles.

CNN

• 120 athletes (ages 14-17) participated, one boy and one girl per jurisdiction.

Boston Globe

• Scholarship pool: $250,000 total; $125,000 awarded to each gender’s winner.

CNN

• Streaming: Live on the ESPN app; a primetime highlight special will air mid-August on ABC.

CNN

• Schedule: Qualifying rounds first two days, followed by tug-of-war, “Victory Hoops,” semifinals and championship on day three.

WJW - Cleveland News

In a 2023 video, Trump said the competition would feature “the greatest high-school athletes” and reiterated his stance that “you’ll see everything but that” regarding transgender participation.

Boston Globe

• Tylee Herrmann said, “I feel like a lot of times right now, we feel disunified,” and added that people have stopped talking to her after announcing her participation.

CNN

• Liam Nies, an Ohio representative, said he now has “a different view on America” after living abroad as a child.

CNN

• Max Biondolillo, a Florida contestant, admitted uncertainty about the format, stating, “I’m not 100 percent sure what’s going to be happening. I’m definitely training all around, just to prepare.”

Daily Beast

The scoring methodology for mixed-team events remains unclear; athletes have called for detailed guidelines. Earlier controversy over the “Presidential 1776 Award” involving a 15-year-old’s family highlighted concerns about judging transparency. While the official site lists a $125,000 scholarship per gender, some outlets referenced a $250,000 total pool, creating minor reporting variance.

CNN

• “I feel like a lot of times right now, we feel disunified,” — Tylee Herrmann

CNN

• “There’s definitely been a number of people that just stopped talking to me,” — Tylee Herrmann

CNN

• “I have a different view on America,” — Liam Nies

CNN

• “I’m not 100 percent sure what’s going to be happening. I’m definitely training all around, just to prepare,” — Max Biondolillo

Daily Beast

President Trump is slated to attend the competition’s concluding day, after which the ABC primetime special will air in mid-August to showcase highlights and announce the scholarship winners. Freedom 250 indicated future anniversary events may build on the Patriot Games format, though details remain pending.

CNN