Playing to the Gallery

Visual-Culture, Aesthetics, and the Spectacle: (Re)Reading Commonwealth Games 2010, New Delhi

Abstract

New Delhi hosted Commonwealth games in 2010. It was a spectacular spectacle of visuals, ideas and projections. The cityscape was transformed in accordance with the global audience and expectations. The Commonwealth Games in Delhi 2010 was highly influenced by other sporting events abroad, such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China or the 2006 Commonwealth games in Melbourne, Australia. It seems such events, on the one hand, are inspired by global standards at the technological and managerial level and, on the other, by the zeal to project the host nation’s image as an integral member of the global commune. New Delhi had been preparing hard for the Commonwealth Games 2010 since the arrival of the new millennium, but efforts were intensified from 2004 onwards.