There are two aspects to sports - watching them and playing them. Whichever you prefer, here is the best of Delhi.

Amongst the sports that inspire spectators in hordes - cricket must top the list, as it does everywhere in the country. Other spectator sports with a reasonable following include tennis and polo. Hi-brow tournaments of golf, polo, races as well as car rallies with corporate sponsorships are events marked by celebrity presence when the winter sets in. Then there are other regular tournaments of badminton, hockey, football, snooker and so on. What must be mentioned is that Delhi has one of the finest sporting infrastructures in the country. The Asiad Games held in 1982 necessitated the creation of several swanky stadia that continue to host prestigious sporting events. On any given day, the local newspaper will list a number of events taking place across the city.

If doing it yourself is what you are looking for, the options are plenty - from golf, rock climbing, hang-gliding, canoeing, riding, bowling, ballooning - or simply working at any of the swanky gyms that are scattered across the city.

Considering India"s vast experience in hosting international competitions successfully and the initiative taken for mooting the proposal to organise the Afro-Asian Games, the Olympic Council of Asia has bestowed New Delhi upon the honour of staging the 1st Afro-Asian Games from November 03 to 11, 2001.

The inaugural Afro-Asian Games in the India's capital will be one of the major attractions in the beginning of this new millennium. Some of the new Olympic heroes from the Asian and African continents would be seen in action.

The host city, New Delhi is the sports capital of India. In the recent past, India has been the venue for several sports events. Delhi has unparalleled expertise and unmatched experience in hosting sporting events. The movement for the Asian spirit got its forum in the historic city of Delhi when the first Asian Games were held here in the year 1951. In the year 1982, Asian nations converged once again in the modern city of New Delhi. In the year 1989 the Asian track and field Championships were held. The Asian Junior Track and Field Championship in November 1992 and October 1996 were also very successful. The IAAF International Athletics Meet with participation by the world's top athletes was also a major event. It also hosted the ATP event in the year 1997 and the Thomas and Uber Cup in February, 2000. India mostly hosts the Davis Cup ties in the sub-continent. Apart from this, international competitions in other disciplines keep on happening in India regularly.

India has been an active participant in all the sport events in Asia and Europe. It has participated in all 13 Asian Games held so far. From the Year 1984 to 1999, India has participated in all Winter Games, be it Olympic Winter Games held at Sarajevo and Alpentville in 1984, 1992 and 1998 or the Asian Winter Games held at Canada in 1988, Japan in 1990 and Korea in 1999. New Delhi has also served as a host to many national and international sporting events such as theCommonwealth and Asian Archery Championships, World Cup Badminton, Asian Cycling Championship, World Billiards and Snooker Championships, Asia Cup Hockey Championships, SAARC Badminton and Gymnastics Championships, SAF Games and the International Volleyball Tournaments, to name a few.

The dates for 2010 Commonwealth Games 2010 have been decided. The biggest International event in the history of the city shall be held between Oct 3 to Oct 14 2010.

According to the communique of the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games 71 countries would be participating in the event with around 8000 participants- athletes and officials.

The Opening & Closing Ceremonies will be held in Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium on Oct 3 & 14 respectively. The JLN stadium shall, like Asiad 1982, be the venue of track & field events. The other venues are yet to be decided.