***I do not own any of this, and I'm stating this for the on-going chapters, as well. I can wish, but it's not gonna change anytime soon.***
"War. Terrible war. Widows. Orphans. A motherless child. This was the uprising that rocked our land. Thirteen Districts rebelled against the country that fed them, loved them, protected them. Brother turned on brother until nothing remained. And then came the peace. Hard fought, sorely won. A people rose up from the ashes. And a new era was born. But freedom has a cost. When the traitors were defeated, we swore as a nation we would never know this treason again. And so it was decreed that each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up in tribute one young man and woman, to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage, and sacrifice. The lone victor, bathed in riches, would serve as a reminder of our generosity and our forgiveness. This is how we remember our past. This is how we safeguard our future."
The president cleared his throat before continuing to speak before the people of the Capitol and the cameras broadcasting all over Panem. "Hello Panem, as you know I am Coriolanus Snow, your new president of Panem!" A clearly audible cheer reached Snow's pale ear from his position on the spacious balcony. "It fills me with sorrow that I must take my beloved father's position as leader, after he passed away of natural causes on the eve of my twenty-sixth birthday. And now a moment of silence for Valerius Snow, may his soul rest in peace." After a moment or two he continued, "As the sun sets on his time, it has risen anew with this era of peace throughout Panem that I hope to provide you all with." He smiled a sickly sweet smile while adjusting his new white rose pin he had received on his birthday several months ago.
"At the end of this summer, we will have our twenty-fifth Hunger Games! I take great joy in announcing that I have a new idea to rejoice a fourth of a century for this wonderful event. I call it 'the Quarter Quell'. Every twenty-five years, the Gamemakers and I will select an extra special something that will refresh the Games in a new way. I have taken it upon myself to select the Quarter Quell card earlier… And now I can say that this year's Quarter Quell will be," he glanced down at the card in his white gloved hand. "The pool of possible male and female tributes will be combined! It is now completely possible to have a male and female tribute, two male tributes, or two female tributes. After all, male and female tributes are all warriors, no matter what the gender is!" He gave another dastardly smile as the crowd below him exploded with bouts of applause and cheer.
"I hope you will enjoy your first Quarter Quell as much as I hope to enjoy my first Hunger Games as President." He gave a bow in the direction of the crowd causing his already graying light brown hair to glint in the sunlight. Then he gave a regal wave towards the cameras and retreated into his mansion with a wicked smile displayed on his features. Oh, he thought to himself. What fun this will be.
***The speech is obviously not mine. It's from the Capitol's Promotion Video in the movie version of The Hunger Games.***