Free time page 13 Rollerblades take cities by storm Leisure | Seven cities, seven days From Brussels to Mons, police officers on rollerblades

Following the success of previous experiences in Brussels, the Belgium Rollers Summer Tour is expanding. During summer evenings, rollerbladers will take over the streets of Namur, Mons, Liège, Koksijde, Ghent, and Hasselt. Under Palace 2 at the Heysel, the roller-skating police officers who supervise the Brussels 'roller parade' are training between orange cones this Wednesday morning. An exercise that colleagues in Wallonia and Flanders will perform this summer. Five roller outings organized across the Capital and more than 30,000 participants convinced Mons, Namur, and Liège to introduce this sporting festival to their streets. Ghent, Hasselt, and Koksijde are also joining the experience, which is already a tradition in Brussels, as highlighted by Mayor Freddy Thielemans. During the two months of school holidays, young people and adults will be able to discover these seven cities on wheels—one for each day of the week. As for the role of police officers during these rides, it creates a sense of proximity with the population, especially with young people, noted the mayor of Mons, Elio Di Rupo. 'This easier contact—we have rollerblading in common—has won over many men and women in the police force,' explains Sabrina Plas, who arrives at the Brussels police station on skates. A second brigade of 'roller cops' has just been created. A total of fifty volunteers accompany the skaters along their route. Another incentive for the officers: sport and job diversity, she points out. 'It is also a pleasant way to work,' notes Joël De Keyzer, head of the 'roller cops' team. He has noticed how easy dialogue is during his patrols in the Bois de la Cambre when it is closed on weekends. An experience eagerly awaited in Wallonia. • Info: www.belgiumrollers.com