The International Olympic Committee has said that it does not have a problem with Russia's decision to cover up a technical glitch during the opening ceremony of the Sochi Games.

During the show, one of the five Olympics rings suspended from the ceiling failed to illuminate completely, a malfunction that was observed by 40,000 people inside the Fisht Olympic Stadium, as well as viewers on television.

However, local television in Russia did not show that glitch and used rehearsal footage during that time, leading the viewers to think that there was no problem with the rings.

"Some people decided to take some other footage and some not," IOC spokesman Mark Adams told reporters.

"It's a very technical Olympic ceremony, very well organised. But the show itself was a fantastic one. I don't see what the problem is, to be honest."

Three billion people watched Friday's opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics, which is said to have cost £30bn.