By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews
State Rep. Jeff Leach (R–Plano), who represents Texas House District 67, drew attention to a Grapevine-Colleyville ISD facility dispute this week, praising the district after it ended negotiations connected to the 2026 Islamic Games and cited state contracting restrictions tied to an event sponsor.
In a post on X, Leach wrote in part: “Thank you, @GCISD, for doing the right thing!” He also referenced what he described as “great reporting” and “backlash” connected to the issue.
GCISD cites sponsor concern and Texas contracting restriction
In a written statement emailed to TX3DNews.com, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD said it was aware of “a facility rental request for the 2026 Islamic Games May 9-10,” but stressed the reservation “was still in negotiation review and not yet finalized.”
The district said that on Jan. 19 it learned an organization listed as a sponsor of the event had been declared a terrorist organization under a designation issued by Gov. Greg Abbott.
“On January 19, GCISD was made aware that an organization listed as a sponsor of the Islamic Games in North Texas has been declared a Terrorist Organization by the Governor of Texas,” the district wrote.
GCISD cited Texas Government Code § 2252.152, which states that “[a] governmental entity may not enter into a governmental contract with a company identified as a foreign terrorist organization.”
“Thus, GCISD provided notice that it is severing the negotiations for the use of District properties for the 2026 Islamic Games,” the statement said.
GCISD did not name the organization referenced as a sponsor and did not provide additional detail about how the sponsor was presented during the district’s rental request process.
Leach’s post adds political attention to the dispute
Leach’s comments were among the most widely circulated public statements connected to the district’s decision. While GCISD’s written statement focused on the sponsor designation and state contract law, Leach framed the district’s action as a response to what he described as public backlash.
His post drew reactions from residents and political accounts across the region, with some applauding the district’s decision as a matter of legal compliance and public safety, and others criticizing what they viewed as a controversy driven by public allegations about a youth sports event.
A local Muslim community member familiar with the event described the Islamic Games as a children’s sports tournament and questioned why the issue gained heightened political attention now, noting the games have been held previously without drawing the same level of scrutiny. The community member suggested the dispute reflects the broader tone of an election season, where public officials and political accounts quickly amplify issues that resonate online.
GCISD’s statement did not address whether the district received direct outreach from Leach or other elected officials, and the district has not released additional details beyond the written statement provided to TX3DNews.com.
What the Islamic Games are — and how organizers and CAIR responded
The Islamic Games of North America says its event is a long-running youth sports tournament held in Texas and other states. In a press release shared with TX3DNews.com, the group described itself as “a Texas-based nonprofit” and said it has hosted the games for 35 years, calling it “the longest running multi-sport youth competition in the United States.” Organizers said the event features more than 15 sports and that Colleyville has served as its Texas home since 2023.
But as the controversy grew, organizers pushed back against claims connecting the tournament to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which Leach referenced in his post. The group said CAIR-New Jersey only donated drawstring bags in 2023 and “has never been a sponsor of the Islamic Games.” Organizers said they were “deeply concerned that voices have become so hateful that they would target a sporting event for children,” and said they want direct discussions with district leaders and elected officials.
CAIR issued its own statement rejecting the sponsorship claim as false and said Gov. Greg Abbott’s actions amounted to a political attack on Muslim children. CAIR argued the governor’s proclamation does not apply to CAIR chapters and said it intends to hold Abbott accountable through its ongoing lawsuit, while organizers said their Texas summer tournament remains scheduled to move forward.
What’s known so far
What started as a facility rental request is now sitting at the intersection of state politics, contracting law, and public pressure — with GCISD still declining to name the sponsor it says led to the decision. Organizers and CAIR, meanwhile, say the sponsorship claim driving the controversy is false, turning the dispute into a public fight over what the law requires, what the facts are, and why the issue escalated.