SOCHI, Russia (AP) — When one of the five Olympic rings failed to open in a scene at the Sochi Games opening ceremony on Feb. 7, an anxious Russian television executive rushed to use rehearsal footage to conceal the glitch. Three weeks later the Russian producer was relaxed enough to joke about it.

Konstantin Ernst, chief creative director of the opening and closing ceremonies in Sochi, was met with applause and laughter when he took off his jumper at the Sunday press conference, revealing a white-T-shirt with the four Olympic rings — and a snowflake which failed to turn into the fifth ring.