Freedom 250 announces nationwide youth athletic competition: The 2026 Patriot Games
OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
1:00 PM – Saturday, June 20, 2026
Freedom 250, an organization planning several events celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence, has announced the 2026 Patriot Games, inviting teenage athletes from across the country to compete.
On Saturday, Freedom 250 revealed that the games are scheduled to take place August 9th through the 11th.
The games are meant to showcase and celebrate “the character, determination and excellence that define the American Spirit.”
“The event will feature a series of athletic challenges designed to test strength, endurance, agility, teamwork, and perseverance while highlighting the values that have helped shape generations of Americans,” Freedom 250 explained in its announcement.
High school athletes ages 14-17 from all American states and territories, as well as athletes from tribal nations, will take center stage to compete for a $250,000 scholarship prize pool, which will be evenly split between one male and one female athlete.
“We’re excited to give millions of Americans the opportunity to cheer on and support some of the country’s most promising young athletes as they compete for a scholarship in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary,” ESPN President Burke Magnus stated.
“Our nation’s 250th birthday is more than a celebration of our past. It’s a call to inspire the next generation of leaders, innovators, and patriots,” said Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach. “The 2026 Patriot Games will showcase the character, talent, and determination that define the American spirit, and we are proud to bring that story to millions of families across the country.”
Applications for athletes are now open, with selected applicants to advance through additional screening and verification rounds.
President Donald Trump officially announced that the national youth competition would be in the America 250 lineup in December.
In February, a Freedom 250 spokesperson told CNN that candidates would need to submit an online video application responding to prompts about why they wish to compete in the games.
The application portal requires a video between one and two minutes in length uploaded to YouTube using one or more of the prompts to guide their responses.
“Be yourself and speak from the heart — there are no right or wrong answers,” the website reads. “We’re looking to learn more about who you are, what matters to you, and how you show up as a teammate and competitor.”
Guiding questions include, but are not limited to:
- How do you hope to contribute to America’s future?
- What values define you?
- Why do you want to compete in the 2026 Patriot Games?
- What makes you proud of your country?
- What does it mean to be part of something bigger than yourself?
Qualified applicants must be 14 by June 1, 2026, and 17 or younger on December 31, 2026; be a legal U.S. citizen and resident of a U.S. state, territory or tribal nation; be a student in good academic standing and obtain parental consent. Participation includes an all-expense-paid trip for each athlete and their chaperone.
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