The roller parade will survive the summer

This article from 2002 reports on the significant turnout for the inaugural summer roller skating parades in the Belgian capital. Between 20,000 and 30,000 participants joined the events over seven Fridays, growing from an initial group of 1,800 to over 5,000 by the final session. The initiative, organized by a local nightlife figure and supported by the City of Brussels, even featured a dedicated squad of skating police officers to ensure safety. The text highlights that while the weekly events were specific to the summer season, their success prompted officials to plan future editions. The Mayor confirmed that the summer program would return the following year, and several special holiday-themed skates were scheduled for the intervening months, including events for Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and Carnival. Additionally, organizers expressed interest in expanding the concept to other Belgian cities like Namur, Liège, and Mons. Police officials noted the overall safety and positive public image of the event, while advising against mixing bicycles or pets into the skating processions in the future. Would you like a summary of another article or the next section of this coverage?