2:04 p.m., May 15, 2007--The internationally renowned University of Delaware Ice Skating Science Development Center will send a delegation to Italy this week, where staff members will make presentations to that nation's coaches and skaters.

Traveling to Milan and Torino from May 18-25 will be UD coaches Jeff DiGregorio and Scott Gregory and athletic trainer Jeff Schneider. They will discuss various skills and other topics related to figure skating.

The presentations are part of a continuing relationship between the University and Italian skating. Last year, Italian figure skating coach Franca Bianconi brought 22 competitors to UD for several weeks of training.

DiGregorio and Bianconi are longtime friends, having met while training for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y.