▁of ▁the ▁team . ▁▁ ▁Hand ball ▁and ▁vol ley ball ▁are ▁also ▁popular ▁in ▁Van ad zor . ▁Many ▁sport ▁schools ▁operate ▁in ▁the ▁city ▁under ▁the ▁super vision ▁of ▁the ▁municipality , ▁including ▁the ▁schools ▁of ▁sw imming , ▁athlet ics , ▁weight l ifting , ▁ch ess , ▁art istic ▁g ymn ast ics , ▁table ▁tennis ▁and ▁bad m inton . ▁ ▁Winter ▁sports ▁are ▁also ▁pract iced ▁in ▁L ori ▁Province . ▁A ▁ski ▁resort ▁near ▁Van ad zor ▁oper ates ▁during ▁the ▁snow y ▁season , ▁generally ▁extending ▁between ▁December ▁and ▁March . ▁ ▁International ▁relations ▁ ▁T win ▁towns ▁– ▁Sister ▁cities ▁Van ad zor ▁is ▁tw inned ▁with : ▁ ▁B agne ux , ▁France , ▁since ▁ 1 9 6 8 ▁ ▁Pas ad ena , ▁United ▁States , ▁since ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁ ▁Pod ol sk , ▁Russia , ▁since ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁ ▁Bat umi , ▁Georgia , ▁since ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁ ▁Notable ▁people ▁ ▁Ste pan ▁Z ory an , ▁Armen ian ▁writer ▁Sur en ▁Ag hab ab yan , ▁literary ▁critic ▁and ▁Doctor ▁of ▁Phil ology ▁Albert ▁Az ary an , ▁Olympic ▁Champion ▁g ymn ast ▁Art av az d ▁P eles hy an , ▁film ▁director ▁Sh av ar sh ▁Kar ap ety an , ▁Soviet - Ar men ian ▁fin ▁sw immer ▁Edu ard ▁N al band yan , ▁former ▁minister ▁of ▁foreign ▁affairs ▁Serge i ▁Al if ir en ko