Sydney  - Africans will be running for Australia at the London Olympics without having had to leave their home countries permanently.

Changes to citizenship rules announced Monday will see Australia joining oil-rich Arab states in offering quick passports and relaxed residency requirements to top sporting talent.

"These changes will create a smoother path to citizenship and enable Australia to benefit from the talents and skills they bring to our country," Immigration Minister Chris Evans told reporters in Sydney.

He was flanked at the press conference by Russian-born ice skater Tatiana Borodulina, who under the rule changes will wear Australia's colours at next year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

Top athletes like Borodulina will need to spend only a total of six months living in Australia before they are entitled to a passport and a place in the national team.

Evans said the changes were intended to help ensure that Australia continued to be placed in the top five countries at the Olympics in terms of medals won.

The fast-track to citizenship will be particularly targeted at African runners who could strengthen Australia's underperforming athletics team.

The relaxation of citizenships rules comes just a week after Australians complained bitterly that the national team that beat them at cricket in England included batsmen and bowlers who were born in South Africa.

The changes will be controversial because they break a 40-year commitment to a non-discriminatory immigration programme that promises every applicant is treated in the same way. (dpa)