The Belgian broadcaster Eén / VRT held castings in Het Sportpaleis to select the first semi-finalists for Eurosong 2014. Bart Peeters, completed the panel of experts and they selected eight candidates, who will definitely participate in the semi-finals. It will only be revealed who they are on 2 and 9 February when the first Eurosong broadcastings are aired.

While Bart Peeters, DJ Jef Martens and singer and producer Piet Goddaer decided on the future of the participants, the fourth expert Ruslana could not make it to the castings. Because of the political protests in her home country Ukraine, the 2004 Eurovision winner felt obliged to stay at home. She released a statement saying: It is my civil duty to be with the Ukrainians in my own country at the moment. Millions of our people are protesting on the streets against the President and his decision to not have closer ties with the European Union.

While Ruslana is fighting against this decision by the Ukrainian president at the moment, she promises to be focused on her job as expert in Eurosong in February, when the live shows start. Ruslana will attend Belgium for the first show on 16 February. Then the callback will take place where 8 participants will fight for the last spots in the semi-finals. The experts already chose which artists will get a second chance to make it to the next stage of the show.

The semi-finals will take place on 23 February and 2 and 9 March. The final will take place a week later on 16 March and will be held in the big concert venue Het Sportpaleis. All shows will be hosted by Peter van de Veire and Eva Daeleman.

Stay tuned at esctoday.com for all the latest news about the Belgian national selection 2014 Eurosong and the Eurovision Song Contest.