Unity-building Islamic Games at Colleyville, TX, in the DFW area, under threat
Concerns raised by Republicans over games at school
The planned Islamic Games of North America at Colleyville Heritage High School later in the year could be in doubt after complaints about one of the sponsors’ alleged links to terrorism.
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD trustees are conducting a probe into a public school’s decision to grant organizers permission for the games scheduled to take place between May 9 and 10.
Reports and posts on social media, however, indicate that some Republican lawmakers and conservative media outlets have been raising concerns about the upcoming event at Colleyville Heritage High School.
The event is described by organizers as a multi-sport competition and lists more than 110 sponsors, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) New Jersey.
CAIR has been the subject of controversy in the past when critics alleged ties between CAIR and extremist groups such as Hamas or the Muslim Brotherhood—claims which CAIR has repeatedly denied.
CAIR has been designated a foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organization under Texas law by Governor Greg Abbottin November 2025. Posts said conservative commentators have cited these allegations when questioning the appropriateness of the event’s sponsorship.
One of the sponsors is a chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, according to a report in The Dallas Express.
“The board was not aware of this,” said Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Board President Shannon Braun to the newspaper. “This is obviously a sporting event. Where the problem lies is that you have a terrorist organization sponsoring it.” Braun was referring to Gov. Abbott’s November 2025 proclamation designating CAIR under Texas law.
District officials were also trying to find out how this event got approved, according to Braun. She also said they were investigating how district policy applies.
On 19 January, the Texas State Representative Jared Patterson urged the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD to cease its partnership with the organization linked to terrorism.
As part of social cohesion and diversity, the Dallas Islamic Games 2026 brings together Muslim learned in two days of fun-filled sporting and leisure activity.
But questions have been asked about how the event, which encourages unity and togetherness, was given the go-ahead to take place at a public school.
Colleyville Heritage High School is a secondary school in Colleyville, Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The school is part of the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District and serves students from first-year students through seniors in Colleyville and the surrounding areas of Tarrant County.
The event in Colleyville is one of many across the country, under the Islamic Games of North America. Outside Houston, the Islamic Games are scheduled for October 10 to 11 at Bridgeland High School in Cypress.