Come the end of the summer National Senior Games, scheduled June 3 to 18 in the Pittsburgh area, David White will be unemployed.

The 34-year-old Mars resident surrendered his position as athletic training team director for UPMC Sports Medicine in May 2003 to accept the position as executive director of the Pittsburgh organizing committee for the 2005 National Senior Games.

"They told me they couldn't hold my position for that long," White said of his former job with UPMC. "I understood that. But this was an opportunity - a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity - I wasn't going to miss.

"I haven't regretted it. Not for a minute."

White has been following the National Senior Games since 1999, when he was dispatched to Orlando, Fla., to observe the games as part of a research project on senior athletes being conducted by UPMC.

He also attended the Senior Games, held every other year, in Baton Rouge, La., in 2001 and Hampton Roads, Va., in 2003.

"We've tried to draw off each one, both the positive things and the problems they encountered," White said.

White and his 10-member committee went to work preparing the 2005 games even before the 2003 games were completed.

"We wanted to have something ready to present in Virginia," he said. "It's amazing, watching this entire event come together.

"We started from scratch and raised $1.9 million in 18 months and another $1.5 million in mankind services."

The 2005 games consist of 18 sports for men and women age 50 or older. There are 10,400 athletes registered to compete, and about 30,000 additional out-of-town visitors are expected to view the competitions.

Venues range from Schenley Park to North Park, Cranberry Highlands Golf Course to the Petersen Events Center.

"We've booked thousands of rooms for incoming athletes and their families," White said. "Thousands of others have made their own arrangements. We don't know where they're staying."

A major problem at the 2003 games was athletes not knowing how close their venues were to their accommodations and finding transportation back and forth.

White's committee established a Web site - 2005seniorgames.org - detailing all of the venues, complete with directions.

The Petersen Events Center will host the basketball, racquetball and table tennis events, along with serving as an athlete village.

"We took a page out of the Olympics for that one," White said.

The Petersen Events Center will include a registration area, special events, a corporate village, restaurant row, computer lab for athletes and a health assistance area.

Each venue will have medical personnel present during every competitive event. Kent Biggerstaff, former athletic trainer of the Pittsburgh Pirates, is the director of competition and venues for the 2005 games.

Martha Cheatwood is director of administrative services.

"She's touched every one of the 10,400 registration forms," White said. "She's handled each one."

Mark Ferracio, Janet Kanaskie, Ed Guminski and Kim Chiera are other directors serving the committee.

"These are incredible people serving incredible people," White said.

All 50 states will be represented at the 2005 games. There are 11 athletes coming from Alaska, 32 from Hawaii and 300 from California.

Athletes from Ukraine, Barbados and Canada have also qualified through open-state competitions. Some state Senior Games - including those in Pennsylvania - are open only to residents of that state.

The average age of the competitors is between 60 and 65. The oldest registered athlete this year is Sam Pate, a 103-year-old bowler from Texas.

"We get calls from people informing us that a registered athlete has passed away or is in the hospital, a spouse had a heart attack, etc.," White said. "Two weeks ago, we received a call that a 95-year-old athlete who registered had passed away.

"When you're dealing with senior athletes, it's going to happen."

But the athletes who do come are vibrant people. White said 160 are registered for the triathlon in North Park and 1,000 will be competing in four cycling events there.

Mary Bauermaster, 87, of Hamilton, Ohio, ran the 100-meter dash in 19 seconds. She never began competing in athletics until age 62.

"Every one of these athletes has a story," White said. "This isn't just a competition to them, it's a lifestyle.

"When you watch a 90-year-old dive into a pool or watch these people dive after a loose basketball … You get goose bumps on the back of your neck."

White has been working 6½ days a week, 60 to 65 hours a week, for months getting ready for a 15-day event.

He may burn out at times. He never gets tired.

"I'm very passionate about this. It's fun to me. Otherwise, I couldn't do it," White said. "I never stop to think about the hours. If something needs done, you do what you have to do.

"I guess we won't know how successful we were here until we see how many of these athletes sign up for 2007 (in Louisville, Ky.).

"I won't dwell on it. I'll be looking for a job," he added.