CLEVELAND (AP) - A working-class neighborhood in Cleveland has suddenly taken an interest in speed skating now that one its families has a son competing in the Olympics.

Scott Koons is scheduled to race in the 1,000-meter short track event on Tuesday.

Handmade signs in front windows read: ''Congrats Scott!'' ''Go Koons!'' and ''Bring Home the Gold.'' Everyone seems to be awaiting his performance next week 6,000 miles away in Nagano, Japan.

Even the sign outside a Catholic church in the neighborhood reads, ''Godspeed Scott Koons,'' and a big banner filling the window of the corner Convenient Food Mart says, ''Congratulations Scott Koons - 1998 Olympic Speed Skater!''

The neighborhood is pulling together not only for Koons, 21, but also for his parents, Dave and Ann, who have maxed out their credit cards to finance a trip Saturday to Japan.

The travel, hotel and food costs for Dave and Ann and their three other children, Molly, 24, Todd, 23, and Jeffrey, 20, is about $25,000. Friends, neighbors and skating fans have been kicking in a few dollars to help out.