Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes: What idea does Snow present to the Head Game Maker Volumnia Gaul?

In The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, President Coriolanus Snow presents an idea to the Head Game Maker Volumnia Gaul. When Snow is tasked with writing a paper about additions to the Hunger Games, he suggests a betting and sponsorship program that would allow Capitol citizens to support their favorite tributes. This idea would later become instrumental in the modern games. He believes that by introducing sponsorships, the games would become more engaging for the audience and provide a source of revenue for the Capitol.Snow sees this as an opportunity to restore his family's wealth and secure his future. He hopes that by gaining popularity and support through sponsorships, he can gain favor and increase his chances of winning the competition. The concept of sponsorships adds a new layer of strategy to the games, as tributes can attract sponsors by building alliances and performing well in the arena.However, Snow's essay is met with suspicion by Gaul. She suspects that Snow has been the sole contributor to the paper and drops the essay into a tank of genetically modified snakes. Snow realizes that the snakes could identify his scent on the pages and not his classmate's. The snakes bite his classmate Clemensia instead, confirming his suspicions that he has been caught. Clemensia is taken to the hospital, and Snow retrieves the pages, hiding his involvement.Despite this setback, Snow and his tribute, Lucy Gray Baird, continue to dazzle the Capitol with Lucy's performances. They generate excitement and attention from the citizens, leading to increased sponsorships and support. Snow's idea proves to be successful in engaging the audience and providing advantages for the tributes.However, the games are disrupted by unexpected bombings during the tour of the arena, resulting in the deaths of several tributes and mentors. Lucy briefly considers escaping, but she decides to help an injured Snow instead. The games commence, and most tributes quickly succumb to starvation, sickness, and weakness. Lucy, with her resourcefulness and ability to hide, manages to survive.Towards the end of the games, Snow encounters a District sympathizer named Sejanus who enters the arena to protest against the Capitol. Snow convinces Sejanus to leave, understanding that his beliefs could have more impact if he remains alive. As they try to escape, they are attacked by another tribute, and Snow is forced to kill them. This marks Snow's first act of violence, a turning point in his character development.Back in the Capitol, Snow becomes aware that Dr. Gaul had used genetically modified snakes against Clemensia. He uses this knowledge to his advantage by ensuring that the snakes become accustomed to Lucy's scent. When the remaining tributes are released into the arena, the snakes attack and kill them, but Lucy is left unharmed. Her connection with the snakes hints at her survival instincts and resourcefulness.Lucy is declared the winner of the Hunger Games, and Snow is confronted by the Game Makers who present damning evidence that he aided his tribute. Snow is forced to become a Peacekeeper in District 12, far from the retribution he had hoped for. Despite this setback, Snow finds solace in reuniting with Lucy. They confront their growing feelings for each other, and Snow begins to understand her perspective and the plight of the Districts.Eventually, Snow discovers that Sejanus is plotting to help District residents escape to the North, outside of Panem's control. Snow secretly records evidence of this plot and sends it back to Dr. Gaul. However, the plan is jeopardized when their actions are discovered, resulting in the deaths of the conspirators. Snow and Lucy find themselves as the remaining witnesses.In the chaos and uncertainty that follows, Lucy decides to leave for the North regardless of the risks. Snow, offered a position in the Officers Training Academy in District 2 for his information on the plot, decides to join her in her escape. As they journey together, Snow stumbles upon the guns they used to commit the murders. Realizing that he could destroy any evidence and regain his family's honor, Snow contemplates betrayal.Uncertain of Snow's intentions, Lucy flees into the forest. Snow shoots into the trees in an attempt to kill her, but he is left unsure if he succeeded. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, he disposes of the guns and returns to District 12. He is transported back to the Capitol, where Dr. Gaul commends him for his contribution and explains that she had sent him to District 12 to come to terms with the reality of Panem's society. Snow accepts his new role as an officer in the making, and he is practically adopted by Sejanus's father, unaware of Snow's involvement in his son's death.The novel's epilogue reveals that the games were originally the idea of a young Dean Highbottom, and Snow poisons Highbottom after growing tired of his mistreatment. Snow becomes a Game Maker and implements his own ideas into the games, establishing his signature method of poisoning his enemies. Lucy's fate remains unknown, leaving the readers to wonder whether she died in the forest or managed to escape Panem.In summary, Snow presents the idea of a betting and sponsorship program for the Hunger Games, which proves successful in engaging the Capitol citizens and providing advantages for the tributes. This idea marks a turning point in Snow's character development as he begins to understand the power of manipulation and the impact it can have on the games. Despite his setbacks, Snow's journey from a desperate mentor to a future leader of Panem is filled with intrigue, deception, and moral dilemmas.