Olympics-Ski resorts to close from Jan. 4 in preparation for Beijing Games

FILE PHOTO: A staff member moves a barrier at the Thaiwoo ski resort near skiing venues of the 2022 Winter Olympics in the Chongli district of Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, China, October 29, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

BEIJING (Reuters) - The city hosting most of the skiing and snowboarding events in the Beijing Winter Olympics will close its ski resorts to tourists from Jan. 4 to allow for preparations and the smooth running of the Games that begin a month later, a local government notice said on Thursday.

Zhangjiakou, around 200 km (124 miles) northwest of the Chinese capital in Hebei province, will play host to the cross-country skiing, ski jumping, biathlon and snowboarding competitions in its Chongli district during the Winter Olympics, which take place from Feb. 4-20.