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  • Athletes receive a hero's welcome from Ismaili youth at a pep rally held at Dallas Headquarters Jamatkhana ahead of USIG2015. Umair Ali
    Naureen Ali Basaria | 24 November 2015 | USA

    American Ismailis gathering for US Games over Thanksgiving weekend

    Athletes receive a hero's welcome from Ismaili youth at a pep rally held at Dallas Headquarters Jamatkhana ahead of USIG2015. Umair Ali
  • An Ismaili pipe band from Dallas performing at the US Ismaili Games pep rally held in Dallas on 21 November. Umair Ali
    Naureen Ali Basaria | 24 November 2015 | USA

    American Ismailis gathering for US Games over Thanksgiving weekend

    An Ismaili pipe band from Dallas performing at the US Ismaili Games pep rally held in Dallas on 21 November. Umair Ali
  • In the lead up to the US Ismaili Games, the "One Jamat" theme is evident in the high participation rate of seniors, who will perform at the opening ceremonies and volunteer during the games. Umair Ali
    Naureen Ali Basaria | 24 November 2015 | USA

    American Ismailis gathering for US Games over Thanksgiving weekend

    In the lead up to the US Ismaili Games, the "One Jamat" theme is evident in the high participation rate of seniors, who will perform at the opening ceremonies and volunteer during the games. Umair Ali
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Nearly 1 000 athletes will compete at the United States Ismaili Games over the upcoming Thanksgiving Day weekend. The sports tournament will take place in Dallas, Texas between 26–29 November.

“The games are a great forum to promote excellence in sports, healthy competition, ethical behaviour, and unity among the Jamat,” says Nizar Didarali, President of the Ismaili Council for the Central United States. “We are thrilled to bring together our brothers and sisters with some of the largest participation numbers these tournaments have ever seen.”

Athletes will compete in a diverse set of sports including basketball, cricket, squash, and soccer. Sports such as dance, flag football and volleyball have helped boost female athlete registration beyond levels seen in prior tournaments.

Shaista Motani, a member of the Central US women’s volleyball team, has been practicing with her teammates twice weekly since August. She has played at many Ismaili tournaments over the years and says, “I am excited to have the opportunity to come back now that I’m older, to participate and to know that our community puts such a value on sports and coming together.”

About 200 participants from these games will advance to the 2016 Jubilee Games in Dubai, where over 1 700 Ismaili athletes from more than 20 countries are expected to take part. “We in the Central US are honored to host this unique event and are excited to be a part of the athletes’ journeys to the Jubilee Games,” says President Didarali.

Danish Charanya, Chairman of the Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board for the Central US says that the Games’ One Jamat slogan is especially important.

“The Games are more of a platform to bring the community together,” says Charanya. “It’s not just about the individual. At the forefront of our minds is holistic youth development and civic engagement.”

With civic engagement in mind, Games attendees will participate in numerous activities with the aim of giving back to the host city. These include preparing blankets and hygiene kits for the homeless, writing thank you cards for servicemen and women and well-wishing cards for paediatric cancer patients, and creating a sports-themed mural that will be donated to a local non-profit organisation. Matthew Marchant, the mayor of Carrollton, Texas, has signed a proclamation recognising the tournament and its participants for their service.

“The Ismaili athletes’ and over 500 volunteers’ time and dedication are a true testament to how ingrained the notion of service is within the Ismaili community,” says Charanya.

“We want to impact not just our community, but impact the communities where Ismailis live, regionally, nationally, and globally.”