Saturday, March 2, 2013

Brazil builds supersized seats for obese fans attending World Cup in Rio

Brazil is planning on welcoming up to 500,000 visitors of all shapes and sizes when they host the World Cup in Rio de Janeiro next summer. Apparently, the Brazilians aren't forgetting some of the larger fans — or the smaller ones, for that matter, who get squished next to them.

According to The Daily mail.com, supersized seats have been constructed to hold obese soccer fans during next year's festivities

The reinforced "blue" seats will be able to hold fans who weigh up to 560 pounds.  But the double-wide seats will cost the larger fans twice the standard ticket price at matches in Fortaleza's Castelao stadium.

In other words — the Americans are coming!



The special seats are obligatory under Brazilian disability laws which requires that 1% of all seating be reserved for the disabled — including the obese.  The 120 homen gordo seats have been installed in the 64,000 capacity stadium with the cheapest one costing $57.

The expanded seats will be similar to the one pictured above (from a Sao Paulo metro station) and will be tested at June's Confederation Cup in Brazil, a dress rehearsal for the World Cup.

Is it possible for a skinny fan to purchase a blue seat as an upgrade for himself?  Or would the extra elbow room be considered not politically correct.


1 comment: