A chain of rolling elements comprises a plurality of rolling elements and an elongate carrier belt with a plurality of recesses for receiving the rolling elements, a plurality of retainers for retaining the rolling elements received in the recesses and at least one elongate flexible element for connecting the retainers. The carrier belt comprises two lateral edge portions and a central portion connecting them, the retainers being connected to the at least one flexible element in the lateral edge regions of the carrier belt. Separate retainers are associated with successive rolling elements, at least one retainer associated with each rolling element being provided on the at least one flexible element in the longitudinal direction thereof before and after each rolling element.