The international portion of the relay was problematic . The month-long world tour encountered wide-scale anti-Chinese protests . After trouble in London involving attempts by protesters to put out the flame , the torch was extinguished in Paris the following day . The American leg in San Francisco on 9 April was altered without prior warning to avoid such disturbances , although there were still demonstrations along the original route . The relay was further delayed and simplified after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake hit western China
2008 Sichuan earthquake
2008 Sichuan earthquake
2008 Summer Olympics