Has the Olympic Torch Been Put Out Before?

Well yes of course! Other than being put out about 5 times during this year's relay through Paris, it happened twice before. The first such event occurred at the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal, Canada. A rainstorm doused the Olympic flame a few days after the games had opened and an official relit the flame using his cigarette lighter. Organizers quickly doused it again and relit it using a backup of the original flame.

The second time happened when the Olympic flame came to the Panathinaiko Stadium of the 2004 Summer Olympics. The night was very windy and the torch blew out due to the wind. It was re-lit from the back up flame taken from the original ceremonial flame at Olympia.

Meantime, let's take a look at this year's torch relay through Paris and London.

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Check out the video at 00:30 when the official turned off the flame.

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Pity the guy at 00:25. Lolx!

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Someone trying to extinguish the flame at 00:24.