Frank Hayden, a Canadian researcher credited with helping spearhead the creation of Special Olympics, has died at age 96, according to Special Olympics Canada. The organization says Hayden’s research in the 1960s helped drive work that ultimately contributed to Special Olympics’ global development. Both outlets report that his contributions played a foundational role in the movement’s early direction, particularly during the period when the organization’s international concept was being shaped. Details about the circumstances of his death and additional personal information are not provided in the available excerpts. Special Olympics Canada presents Hayden as a key figure in the research efforts that helped establish the program and support its expansion beyond its early origins. The Winnipeg Free Press and Global News both attribute the news to statements from Special Olympics Canada and focus on his role as a researcher whose work contributed to Special Olympics’ emergence and growth at the international level. The reporting is consistent in describing his age at death and the general timeframe and significance of his research in the 1960s.