SAO PAULO – The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is set to be the first to offer special seats for obese fans.
FIFA told The Associated Press that the seats will be offered to conform to Brazilian legislation, although fans from other countries also will be entitled to them.
The World Cup Bill in Brazil requires that at least 1 percent of seats in each stadium be made available for disabled people, a category that includes the obese, wheelchair users and those with impaired mobility.
To qualify for a ticket, people are required to submit a medical certificate that proves they have a body mass index of 30 or more, as recognized by the Brazilian Ministry of Health and World Health Organization.
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