Sponsorship

 Sponsorship involves the Mentor procuring useful tools for the tributes from his/her district through donation by sponsors. Tributes are sponsored based on there first impression at the opening ceremonies, training scores, performance in the arena, impression in the interviews, standings in the arena, as well as a number of other factors. Donations from sponsors range from medicines to foods to weapons, and are sent in via silver parachutes. The amount of time spent in the rink determines the cost of certain goods in the arena (a full meal on the first day would buy some crackers on the twelfth). Sponsors pay the Mentors, and the money is spent on necessary tools for the tributes. Haymitch and Katniss communicate through sponsor gifts.