Haymitch appears for the first time in the reaping. Once, he participated in the Hunger Games, and survived, so he was provided with a mansion and food for the rest of his life. Every year he is the District 12 tributes' mentor, and his job consists of collecting sponsors that can help his trubutes during the Hunger Games by sending them medicines, food, or anything that they may need.
He is usually drunk, grumpy and, in general, not in a good mood. However, he likes Katniss and from the beginning he thinks that she can be the winner in this edition of the Hunger Games.