Rickard Nordin, Sweden's 'Hearthstone'-streaming politician

For many people, eSports cropped up when they weren't looking, growing out of the passionate local communities built by game creators and players. Professional teams now compete in high-stakes leagues for prestige, tournament winnings and lucrative sponsorship deals -- but only in places where eSports is encouraged to take root. Many countries don't offer pro game players the same ease of travel as traditional athletes, leading lawmakers to continue debating just how much the state should support the local video game scene. Such is the case with Sweden, but national Parliament member Rickard Nordin is rallying his peers to embrace the financial and cultural benefits eSports can bring, and he's reaching out to fans (near and far) on a platform fitting his mission. Just after Parliament members from each party hold their regular Tuesday meetings, Nordin retires to his office in Stockholm's Parliament House and loads up his current favorite competitive title, the digital card game Hearthstone. As befits a legislator keen to bridge cultural and generational gaps, he livestreams his games on Twitch at 7PM CET.