The parade: a rolling success

The parade: a rolling success Elio Di Rupo was there. But the real star was the wheel BRUSSELS - A night of celebration, Friday, at the foot of the Brussels courthouse. The sky revealed a few stars. The Marolles elevator brought up latecomers, mixed with tourists surprised to see so many people at Place Poelaert. Last night, all of Brussels knew it was better to leave the car in the garage and bring out the wheels. Arthur and Louis are on their second Friday. Their parents are more experienced and spend most of the ride with their kids on their shoulders. "They are more impressed by the crowd than by going through tunnels on skates," explains Denis, their dad. "But for novices, they are doing very well." In fact, as well-equipped as the Rollercops, the two toddlers are already acting like stars. A little turn and there goes Louis the daredevil crashing into a beautiful tall young girl. A little blink and he's gone. Louis quietly returns to his parents, ready to go. A short speech by Freddy Thielemans, who preferred the spikes of the Van Damme [Memorial] to the wheels of Place Poelaert, and the last summer edition of the Roller Parade is launched. With Rollercops in the lead, the long procession moves gently towards the Bois de la Cambre. Followed by bicycles and everything with wheels or rollers that moves without an engine. Skateboards, scooters, etc., three unicycles - that one-wheeled circus bike - even joined the party. On the road, three joyful balancing acts try a breakaway. "It's a first for me," declares Nestor, on his unicycle. "A friend managed to finish the course last week. Normally, there won't be a problem." A gigantic candy break on Boulevard Emile Jacqmain and the 6,000 skaters set off again gently, followed closely by the bikes. The bikes exactly. Wheel to wheel, they advance in slow motion. Next to Caroline, who hasn't missed a ride since the beginning of summer and is still having a blast, rides a distinguished guest, Elio Di Rupo, participating for the first time. He won't go further than the first stage, at the Bois de la Cambre... That's already better than Freddy Thielemans, who quickly returned to the King Baudouin Stadium to follow the great evening of athletics. "I promised them," he explains by way of excuse. It will be for the next edition, perhaps on September 20th. M. L. [Photo caption]: Life is beautiful for the night beauties skating breathlessly on the Brussels asphalt during the last Parade of the summer. (BAUWERAERTS)