The 60-year-old died in March after suffering a tumour.

FIDAL have chosen September 12 because it will mark the 34th anniversary of him setting the world record for 200m at the 1979 World University Games in Mexico City. 

Mennea's time of 19.72sec broke American Tommie Smith's time of 19.83 set on the same track during the 1968 Olympics.

The Italian's record held for 17 years until Michael Johnson broke it at the 1996 United States Olympic Trials.


Mennea won the Olympic title in Moscow the following year, adding to the bronze medal he had won in the same event at Munich in 1972, but is best remembered for his world 200m record. 

"On the day of the world record of 19.72 Mennea in Mexico City in 1979, we intend to remember throughout Italy with a series of 200 meters race open to any category," said Alfio Giomi, President of FIDAL. 

"It' our duty to celebrate an athlete and a record that are part of the history of Italian sport."

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