Vladimir Putin has claimed the Sochi Winter Olympics are a huge success and a massive boost for his country.
But he would say that wouldn't he - he didn't quite see the real picture while practicing his lines backstage.
Note the rings on the TV in the background complete with internationally embarrassing technical glitch...
Suddenly, it appears to have miraculously recovered...
And the ring reappears
Russian television station, Rossiya 1, the host broadcaster, was quick to replace the footage with that from a rather more successful dress rehearsal.
We imagine the conversation in the dressing room went a little like this...
Konstantin Ernst, executive creative director of the opening ceremony, told reporters: "This is certainly bad, but it does not humiliate us."