BC-Sports Showcase Digest

A look ahead to top enterprise and feature stories planned globally by AP Sports. New digests will go out each Thursday and Monday and will be repeated on other weekdays. Please note that story plans may change depending on news and other issues.

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As with all our operations, we welcome and want your feedback. If you have thoughts or questions about the Sports Showcase Digest or the material listed, please reach out to Oskar Garcia, deputy sports editor for presentation and storytelling, at 215-446-6632 or at ogarcia@ap.org.

All times are Eastern.

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THURSDAY, Nov. 22

OLY--TAIWAN-WHAT'S IN A NAME

Taiwan will vote on a referendum this month asking if the self-ruled island should compete as "Taiwan" instead of the present "Chinese Taipei." This would include the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The controversial referendum has angered China, which sees Taiwan as a break-away province. The International Olympic Committee has already said the name must remain as "Chinese Taipei" under an agreement signed in 1981. The IOC will not change the name no matter the outcome of the referendum. By Stephen Wade. UPCOMING: 1,000 words, photos, video by 3 a.m. Thursday.

BKN--LAKERS-MCGEE'S CHANCE

JaVale McGee's numbers are better this season than they've been in nearly a decade, and that's largely because the Los Angeles Lakers gave him what he craved for years — a big opportunity. McGee was hand-picked by LeBron James to play a certain role for the Lakers this season, and so far it's working out in a big way for both sides. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 1 p.m.

FRIDAY, Nov. 23

OLY--FINDING SAFE HAVEN

CARTHAGE, Mo. —The story of how Haven Shepherd ended up in the United States is so unthinkable, it elicits gasps— sometimes an occasional, almost involuntary "Oh my God" — from the people who hear it. Unwanted by her parents, they placed her between them after they strapped bombs to themselves in an attempted family suicide. She was 14 months old. She lost both legs below the knees but survived, to later be adopted by a family in Missouri who came to Vietnam thinking they'd be bringing her home for someone else. Now on a path that could lead her to the Paralympics in 2020, the 15-year-old swimmer is as aware as anyone that the journey is every bit as important as the destination. By National Writer Eddie Pells. UPCOMING: 1,500 words, photos, video by 3 a.m. Friday.

MONDAY, Nov. 26

SOC--WORLD CUP-QATAR'S PREP

DOHA, Qatar — Four years from the start of the 2022 World Cup, the signs of progress across Qatar are hard to miss: from the seemingly endless sea of construction cranes that dot the landscape to the state of the art venues to the genetically engineered strain of grass designed to hold up in the middle of the desert. The logistics, however, might be the easy part for the small Muslim nation as it attempts to balance the political and cultural stakes of hosting one of the world's largest sporting events. By Will Graves. UPCOMING: 1,000 words, photos by 3 a.m. Monday.

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 28

SKI--TEAM X-FACTOR

Foreste Peterson thought her ski racing career was over as she finished her senior season at Dartmouth last winter. Out of the blue, the former U.S. ski team member received an offer almost too good to be true: Free housing, travel and coaching to keep her on the slopes. She's a member of Team X, an all-female development ski team based in Park City, Utah. The team currently backs four athletes from four different countries. By Pat Graham. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 3 a.m. Wednesday.

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Again, if you have questions about the Sports Showcase Digest or the material listed, please reach out to Oskar Garcia at 215-446-6632 or ogarcia@ap.org.

Thanks,

AP Sports