The world has broken down. Constant fighting for farmland, resources, and claims to technological advancements have all but scorched the planet. Overpopulation is now the next threat.
With this at the forefront, governments across the world have issued a temporary cease-fire. No point in sending armies to war if they can't be fed, much less guaranteed a home to come back to. A new measure of worth needs to be found.
The World Health Organization was the first to come up with an idea. As sadistic as it is, the plausibility of its outcome was too effective to be disregarded.
The Option
The young and the elderly are, for lack of better terms, useless. Entirely too many adults between the late 20s through early 40s are already slaving away to keep their countries functioning. The option? A less useless and more mentally and physically functional, but not detrimental if lost; generation. Teenagers. Not adults pulling any real weight as far as an economy is concerned, but old enough to be of use for the overall good of humanity.
0.0
With widespread war, the United Nations was forced to step in and take control of multiple countries. Effectively giving them power over most of Europe, Asia, and South America. With many U.N. benefactors coming out of North America, the United States and Canada were relatively safe... for now.
Negotiations began around the year 2058. Of course, no country initially wanted a part of this, but the more it was discussed, the more it made sense. Something had to be done. In an effort to combat a global crisis, what would be known as "The Games of War" were created. These games would consist of 5 categories meant to whittle 5,000 contestants per active country, to 50 qualified representatives. These 50 teenagers would then go on to defend their countries' right to continue to exist.