Workers watching preparations for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games at Fisht Stadium.

Volunteers deliver costumes for the Olympic Games opening ceremony.

Artists and choreographers during an Olympic Games opening ceremony rehearsal at Fisht Stadium.

The central control room at Fisht Stadium from where the Olympic Games opening ceremony was controlled.

Performers during a break from rehearsal for the ceremony at Fisht Stadium.

Moving decorative props for the opening ceremony to Fisht Stadium.

Rehearsal at Fisht Stadium. The extras form ranks at the stadium’s exit. The Olympic Flame is to be delivered to the stadium through this “human corridor”.

Removing the protective cover from the Olympic mascot.

Rehearsing the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony.

An engineer working on the Olympic mascot’s software.

During the rehearsal of the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony.

Testing the Olympic rings. One of these rings failed to open during the opening ceremony.

During a rehearsal at Fisht Stadium.

Performers below the stadium’s floor wait for their appearance during the final rehearsal of the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony.

Performers trying on costumes for the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony.

Performers below the stadium’s floor wait for their appearance during the final rehearsal of the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony.

A girl tries on a costume. She is to escort the national teams to the arena.

Performers below the stadium’s main floor wait for their appearance during the final rehearsal of the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony.

Figure skaters Yulia Lipnitskaya, Yekaterina Bobrova, and Yelena Ilyinykh prepare for their appearance during the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony.

Vladislav Tretyak and Irina Rodnina leave Fisht Stadium to light the Olympic Flame.