Winning will make you famous.
Losing means certain death.

After King Sombra defeated the two princesses who previously ruled Equestria, it was chaos. Rebellions took place throughout the country, and destruction was everywhere. Angered that the ponies under his rule dare to overthrow him, he split Equestria into twelve districts and renamed canterlot to the Capitol.

One hundred and twenty-four years later, the games are just as cruel and ruthless, and Autumn Dusk has to fight in the arena until there is only one pony left- which was probably not going to be her.