National Sporting Federations in Barbados have been urged to ensure their athletes compete consistently and excel at the regional level before moving on to international competition.

The call came from Minister of Sports Charles Griffith during a three-and-a-half-hour meeting with national federations on Saturday morning at his offices at Sky Mall in Haggatt Hall, St Michael.

Minister Griffith also emphasised the importance of national federations utilising junior programmes to ensure the sustainability of their various disciplines in the medium and long term.