In this paper I argue that the lack the sports legislation in the country was one of the reasons behind the Commonwealth Games organi­zational fiasco. Drawing from the legislations adopted by Melbourne (host of the previous 2006 games) and Glasgow (hosts of the forthcom­ing games in 2014) I have laid out the important features that a sports legislation in India should have if India ever hopes to host a world scale sporting event successfully. These features include formation of the or­ganising committee, land acquisition, intellectual property rights, ticket touting, transport and ambush marketing. I have pointed out specific ar­eas where India failed in this regard during the Commonwealth Games, in light of India’s bid document and the events that unfolded in the run up to the Games.