The inaugural Patriot Games, a four-day high school athletics competition created by Donald Trump as part of the United States' 250th anniversary celebrations, has drawn criticism for the demographic makeup of its participants.
The event, which concluded Tuesday and was summarized in a one-hour special aired by ABC on Thursday evening, brought together 120 teen athletes aged 14 to 17. One male and one female athlete represented each U.S. state, along with participants from territories and tribal nations, competing for $250,000 in scholarship money.
However, CNN anchor Audie Cornish led the criticism, stating that the event appeared to be "overwhelmingly white." According to a CNN analysis mentioned by Cornish, many featured athletes attend private Christian schools and were not selected through qualifying events. Some students were reportedly chosen to represent states where they do not reside.
Cornish noted that the application for the games did not specify race, but she questioned the demographic of the student athletes who were featured. "A CNN analysis actually found that a specific demographic of kids got a shot to compete," she said.
Social media users echoed these sentiments, with some branding the event the "white Olympics" and questioning its premise. Comparisons were also drawn to dystopian fiction, with one user noting the irony of reading a Hunger Games book while the Patriot Games were being broadcast.
Other criticisms focused on the nature of the competitions themselves, with some social media users describing the events as "made-up" and "dystopian," or likening them to "Teen Ninja Warrior."
Organized through the Trump-backed Freedom 250 organization, the Patriot Games featured events such as dodgeball, kickball, tug of war, victory hoops, and a presidential fitness test. The semi-final and final heats were decided by a timed obstacle course race. Donald Trump attended the final day of the competition and awarded the scholarship money to the winners.
