Rollerskating celebration at Bois de la Cambre. Initiations and demonstrations during the last day of the European Days on April 18

BRUSSELS ∇ Rollerskating is already a well-established leisure activity here. History even reminds us that the Belgian Joseph Merlin designed the very first roller skates in 1760. But it is especially in recent years that a real wave has swept over Belgium: roller events are popping up everywhere, and fans of the genre will remember the Roller Parades of the summers of 2002 and 2003. The idea of a Skating Sports Day had already sprouted in France a few months ago. Today, several organizations promoting rollerskating, including the French-speaking Belgian Federation of Skating (FBFP) and the Brussels association Ganza Roller, with the support of the BIVV and the City of Brussels, are announcing the second European Day for the development of rollerskating, in the Bois de la Cambre, on Sunday, April 18. The first one will take place the day before, in Charleroi. The Brussels organizers, for their part, have ensured the variety of the program as it is aimed at the widest possible audience, whether initiated or not. Discovery and initiation workshops will take place all day from 11 a.m., at the Carrefour des Attelages. For the more experienced among them, workshops dedicated to braking will start at midday. For the most hesitant, it will not even be necessary to put on skates. The day will be enhanced with all kinds of animations: professionals will come to do slalom, jump, speed, or even disco roller demonstrations. The various actors of the project have also thought of hockey players as several matches will punctuate the event. Finally, all Brussels families will be welcome on that day: family rides will crisscross the woods in the afternoon and activities for 4 and 5-year-olds will be planned. This European Roller Day's main ambition is to raise public awareness of a respectful means of transport which, since January, has obtained legal status in the Highway Code, on the same basis as pedestrians and cyclists. For more information: [coordonnées retirées]