Obese Fans Will Get Discounts, Special Wider Seats At The World Cup

All 12 of the stadiums hosting 2014 World Cup matches will be either new or completely renovated, and a recently passed Brazilian law requires that at least one percent of their capacity be devoted to seats for fans with disabilities, including obesity.

Above is an extra-wide seat at Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã Stadium, where Bloomberg News sports reporter Tariq Panja is getting a tour today. He snapped the shot, and notes that obese fans will be entitled to a 50 percent discount on match tickets.

Obesity in Brazil is a major problem, and the rate is growing rapidly. But these special seats won't just be available to locals. Fans from around the world can apply, but must have a body mass index of 30 or higher, and be able to prove it with a note from their doctor.

(Note. For a 6-foot man, a weight of 221 pounds puts your BMI at exactly 30. Yes, we're one of the fattest countries on Earth, but that sounds totally doable if you want half-price World Cup tickets. Get to it.)