Five months before the national Senior Olympics begin here, Pittsburgh organizers say they have reached 90 percent of their $2.5 million fund-raising goal and are confident of meeting that and all other requirements for the event.

Some 12,000 athletes 50 and older will compete at local college campuses and parks June 3-18 in the 2005 Summer National Senior Games, as they are formally known. Registration takes place through Jan. 31 for the 30,000 people who qualified by finishing among the top two in their age group at state competitions across the country last summer.

Officials of the Pittsburgh Local Organizing Committee are vowing the games will be the best since the national Senior Olympics became an every-other-year event in 1987. The National Senior Games Association, which accepted Pittsburgh's bid from among 19 cities, believes the local effort has been better organized than any of the recent games.

"I think they are ahead in just about every area," said Greg Moore, the association's director of national games, who has been making monthly visits to monitor progress.

The national organization sets the rules for the games, but the local group has to foot the bill. The athletes pay a registration fee of $90 for one sport, more for multiple sports, a portion of which supports the local committee's budget. They also must pay for their own transportation, food and lodging costs.

The $2.5 million budget includes staff salaries, office expenses and any other necessities for which donations aren't available.

David White, the local committee's executive director, said it is near its goal of $1 million in corporate contributions, and he remains hopeful of cobbling together another $1 million from state sources. He expects $500,000 in in-kind donations.

Part of the state's $1 million is allocated. Kate Phillips, spokeswoman for Gov. Ed Rendell, said the state plans to contribute $250,000 from Pennsylvania Lottery marketing dollars, $250,000 from the governor's discretionary funds and $50,000 each in grants from the departments of aging and community development.

White is hoping to get another $400,000 from the discretionary accounts each legislator has for favored projects in their districts or statewide.

"If you look at the impact on the hotel industry, the restaurants, tourism," Phillips said, "this is an event that draws thousands and thousands of people, and we think a great event for the Pittsburgh region."

The University of Pittsburgh's Petersen Events Center will be the Senior Olympics headquarters and site of some competition. Pitt and UPMC officials spearheaded the drive that took shape in 2001 to attract the event, drawing in city and county officials as well as Carnegie Mellon University, the Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau and others.

Pitt and CMU will both be offering dormitory living and cafeteria food to the athletes, and hotels throughout Oakland and Downtown are expected to be heavily booked by the athletes and those accompanying them. Pitt, CMU, Schenley Park and North Park will be the primary competition locations.

Although the city and county are providing no direct Senior Olympics funding, Allegheny County recently upgraded two of its softball fields at North Park to help address National Senior Games Association requirements.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is among several major private sponsors, donating $300,000 because it believes the Senior Olympics will send a positive message to the region's elderly, said Dr. Judith Black, the insurer's medical director of senior products.

"When you use the word exercise with some people, they think, 'Well, I can't do that, I've never done that,' " she said. "But if you hear a story about how someone else was able to do that, you relate because it's about your peers."

White said he's hoping for a huge showing to watch world records being set by men and women from ages 50 to 100. They compete within five-year age brackets in traditional Olympic sports, such as track and swimming, as well as those tailored for seniors, such as horseshoes and shuffleboard.

The only admission charges will be for special events, such as a Celebration of Athletes ceremony to be held midway through the games at either Mellon Arena or Heinz Field.

Some 3,500 volunteers will be needed, and a committee aims to have the legwork done on sign-up by March so scheduling can be worked out by May, White said.

The local organizing committee's staff, working out of an Oakland office provided by UPMC, is up to nine and could include another eight by June, White said. Former Pittsburgh Pirates trainer Kent Biggerstaff is director of competition and venues.

A transportation and parking plan including a Port Authority shuttle bus system between locations, is being worked out.

Those interested in volunteering or donating can get data at www.2005seniorgames.org or 412-647-9519.