Opinion | The Patriot Games Missed Opportunity for Unity

The Patriot Games, an athletic competition featuring high schoolers from across the country, was touted by President Donald Trump as a celebration of American youth and ideals. Instead, it seems the games were little more than a celebration of President Trump. The event was held at the Spire Academy in Geneva, Ohio, which also hosted a campaign event for Trump a little less than two weeks before the 2016 presidential election. Despite Trump claiming last year that the event would feature "the greatest high school athletes" from across the nation, the selection process and criteria remain unclear.

Tonight, ABC will air an hour-long special recap of the Patriot Games, an opportunity for viewers to witness the athletic feats of the participating high schoolers. However, the games' agenda goes beyond the realm of sports, serving as a de facto MAGA rally, with Trump chants and MAGA hats galore. The selection process and criteria for the event seem to have prioritized loyalty to the Trump administration's ideals over athletic prowess. The event received extensive promotion in right-wing media and on social media accounts sympathetic to Trump and MAGA politics.

Sports have the power to bring people together, promoting healthy behavior, prosocial behavior, cognitive development, and better mental health. They teach kids how to work together to achieve a common goal, overcome adversity, and implement notions of sportsmanship and fairness into their day-to-day lives. However, the Patriot Games seem to have undermined these values by focusing on the Trump administration's agenda. The tournament featured one boy and one girl representing each of the 50 states, U.S. territories, military bases, and Indigenous nations, but the selections didn't always make geographic sense.

One of the teens representing Puerto Rico was from Texas, and a girl from California competed for Massachusetts. This lack of diversity is concerning, given the event's emphasis on celebrating American excellence. The selection process and criteria seem to have prioritized ideological alignment over athletic ability. The event has also sparked concern over the representation of marginalized communities, with 90% of participants being white.

The Trump administration's handling of the event has been criticized for exploiting the youth for political purposes. The use of sports competitions as a means to promote a narrow definition of American exceptionalism undermines the inclusive spirit of sports. The Patriot Games should have been an opportunity for American youth to shine and promote unity, but instead, it seemed to perpetuate the division and polarization characteristic of the Trump administration.

The administration's actions have left many questions about the true intentions behind the event. Who really benefited from the Patriot Games? What was the real agenda behind the selection process and criteria? When did the Trump administration decide to exploit the youth for their own purposes? Where did the event go wrong? Why did the event prioritize loyalty to the administration over athletic ability? How can we prevent such events from happening again in the future?

Ja'han Jones noted in an earlier column for MS NOW that youth sports have been used for propaganda purposes before. The games are being held at a time when the majority of American youth don't align with the president. According to the most recent Yale Youth Poll, 60% of voters age 18 to 22 "strongly disapprove" of Trump. The country is engaged in an unpopular war with Iran, which belies the image of American kids competing in fitness tests and military boot camp-style circuits. The administration has tried to use sports competitions to promote their agenda, forcing through a version of sports that only caters to them and their ideals.

Unfortunately, the Patriot Games missed an opportunity to celebrate the things that make sports and America great. The administration's actions have led to widespread criticism and concern over the exploitation of youth for political purposes. The true intentions behind the event remain unclear, leaving many questions unanswered. It remains to be seen how the administration will handle future events, but one thing is certain: sports competitions should be used to promote unity and celebrate American excellence, not to perpetuate division and polarization.

Kavitha A. Davidson is an Emmy-winning sports journalist from New York. She was most recently a correspondent on HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel." She was previously a reporter and columnist at ESPN, The Athletic, and Bloomberg.

It's essential to recognize the impact of the Trump administration's actions on the youth. Sports have the power to shape young minds and promote values such as teamwork, perseverance, and inclusivity. The administration's handling of the Patriot Games set a bad precedent and should serve as a reminder of the importance of respecting the true spirit of sports. As we move forward, it's crucial to prioritize the promotion of unity and inclusivity in sports competitions, ensuring that future events align with the values of American excellence and sportsmanship.

Michael Jordan said, "Liberals, and their kids, love sports too." This statement highlights the need to engage in more inclusive sports competitions that celebrate American excellence in all its forms. The Patriot Games should have been an opportunity to promote unity and celebrate American youth, but instead, it seemed to perpetuate division and polarization. The administration's actions have left a lasting impact on the youth and set a bad precedent for future events.