Belgium Rollers: first parade of the season cancelled in Brussels

(BELGA) = The first outing of the 2005 season of the "Belgium Rollers" rollerblade parade, scheduled for this Friday evening in Brussels, has been cancelled due to thunderstorm threats, confirmed Carl de Moncharline, event organizer, to the BELGA agency at the end of the day. The meeting point for inline skating fans was set for 7:00 PM on Poelaert Square, opposite the Palace of Justice, and the departure was scheduled for 8:00 PM. The next outing is planned for next Friday, same place, same time, "hoping that the weather will be more clement this time," added the organizer. Six Belgian cities will host rollerblading enthusiasts this year, who will be able to enjoy themselves to their heart's content in Brussels, Mons, Namur, Hasselt, Koksijde, and Ostend. Brussels will be the only city to offer a 20 km route for four months, until September 30, every Friday evening. The "Belgium Rollers" tour will travel across the country according to the following schedule: from 04/07 to 29/08 in Hasselt (Mondays), from 06/08 to 31/08 in Ostend (Wednesdays), from 30/06 to 15/09 in Namur (Thursdays), from 03/06 to 30/09 in Brussels (Fridays), and from 02/07 to 27/08 in Mons (Saturdays). The parade will also take place on Sundays 10/07, 30/07, 21/08, and 28/08 in Koksijde. Compliance with this schedule will, of course, be subject to weather conditions. Even though all participants are welcome, the organizers emphasize safety: it is necessary to know how to brake. Beginners are therefore invited to practice in a safe place. For this purpose, an open-air school will be opened in the Bois de la Cambre, in Brussels, every Sunday afternoon. Regarding equipment, it is strongly advised for both children and adults to bring adequate protection: knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, reflective gear, and a helmet. Information on the Internet: www.belgiumrollers.com.