Trump to go to Northeast Ohio Tuesday for ‘Patriot Games’ highschool athletic competitors

President Donald Trump shall be in Northeast Ohio Tuesday for a highschool sports activities competitors known as the “Patriot Games.”

The event is bringing 120 high school athletes — one boy and one girl from each state and territory — to Ashtabula County to compete for up to $125,000 each in scholarships.

The Patriot Games kicked off over the weekend at Spire Academy, a private boarding school and sports training facility located in Harpersfield Township in Ashtabula County. Ohio’s contestants are from Hudson and Cincinnati, according to the students’ posts on social media.

The event, created by the Trump-backed Freedom 250 public-private organization that created the UFC event on the White House lawn, isn’t without controversy, drawing comparisons on social media to the fictional “Hunger Games” books and flicks. A special, bipartisan fee known as America250 fashioned by Congress in 2016 was not concerned with the creation of the occasion.

Applicants additionally submitted on-line movies answering questions that gauged extra than simply their athleticism, showing to check their general patriotism and connection to the nation, according to a CNN report. Some athletes are additionally representing states and areas that they do not really reside in.

Ashtabula County Commissioner Casey Kozlowski, a Republican and former Ohio state consultant, stated the county is buzzing with pleasure across the video games and Trump’s go to. He stated guests coming into the area for the Patriot Games shall be a lift to the native economic system, and to the world’s profile. He stated he is strived to “put politics aside” with the video games.

“Obviously, when you add a presidential element such as a visit from the president here, of course, sometimes politics sadly gets involved in these things, which just kind of happens naturally nowadays,” he stated. “But I will tell you the fact that these games are happening here, really, and with the young athletes that are participating, the focus should be on the athletes and the young folks that are participating. And I think that’s really where we need to center our efforts and I’m just so pleased it’s happening. I think it’s a good thing that this event’s happening.”

Officials with Spire Academy didn’t reply to a number of requests for remark despatched Monday morning.