| | Roller Skating Skate Sports (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-23) |
 | | The first display in public of roller skates was in 1760 when a Belgium inventor, Joseph Merlin, showed off his skates at a formal dinner party in London. |
 | | During the party, he demonstrated his new invention by gliding across the floor. |
 | | Although Joseph had successfully displayed to his colleagues his ability to roll on wheels, he had failed to provide any turning or stopping controls. |
| infotut.com /reference/Sports/Skate/Roller_Skating (356 words) |