THIS year's national May Day Cup tournament has been shifted from Mwanza to Mbeya, organisers said.

The Executive Committee of May Day Cup tournament said in statement issued in Dar es Salaam that the tournament will be held from April 16 to 30 in the southwest region, where the celebrations will also be held at national level.

"The initial invitation letters sent to some of the teams indicated that the tournament would be held in Mwanza. All participating teams have been notified that the tournament will now be held in Mbeya," the Secretary General of the National May Day Cup Tournament Committee Award Safari said.

He urged all participating teams to prepare well in advance. The tournament features teams that fall under the interparastatal and non-parastatal sports federations of Tanzania (SHIMMUTA), interministerial and government department's sports federation (SHIMIWI), local government sports federation of Tanzania (SHIMISEMITA) and defence forces sports council of Tanzania (BAMMATA).

"The committee would also like to inform all teams that the first preparatory meeting to the tournament will be held on March 15, 2013, which will involve two leaders, chairperson and secretary from each team," Safari said. Games to be competed for will be football, netball, tug of war, marathon, playing cards, bicycle racing, draft and bao.

Last year's tournament was held during May Day celebrations held at national level in Tanga where President Jakaya Kikwete was the chief guest. The president presented various prizes, including trophies and certificates, to winners of various games.