Dr. Frank Hayden’s ground-breaking research was the spark that ignited the global Special Olympics movement. As a faculty member at the University of Toronto in the early 1960s, his study of children with intellectual disabilities revealed they were half as physically fit as their peers who did not have intellectual disabilities.
It was assumed that their low fitness levels were directly connected to their disabilities. Dr. Hayden’s body of work challenged that mindset—one that claimed it was the disability itself that prevented people from fully participating in play and recreation. Through rigorous scientific study, Dr. Hayden proved that given the opportunity, people with intellectual disabilities could acquire the necessary skills to participate in sports and become physically fit.
In other words: Sport could have a transformative effect on the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
In 1964, Dr. Hayden published a book that included sample lesson plans for educators. Astonishingly, this publication sold 50,000 copies and caught the attention of a Canadian broadcaster and advocate for individuals with intellectual disabilities, Harry “Red” Foster. Together, they embarked on an effort to launch the Special Olympics National Games in Toronto, though their initial endeavours did not come to fruition.
It wasn’t until 1965, when Dr. Hayden received a call from the Kennedy Foundation, that his idea started to gain traction. Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, was running summer camps for individuals with intellectual disabilities and took a keen interest in Dr. Hayden’s research. Dr. Hayden’s vision and collaboration with the Kennedy Foundation led to the creation of Special Olympics and the inaugural Special Olympics Games at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 20, 1968, featuring athletes from 25 U.S. states and a Canadian floor hockey team made up of students from the Beverley School in Toronto. Inspired by the success of these Games, the first Special Olympics Games in Canada were held in 1969. Dr. Hayden then played a pivotal role in the global expansion of the movement, helping to establish a multitude of additional Special Olympics organizations around the world.
Today, the Special Olympics movement spans nearly 4 million athletes in 177 countries, including more than 42,000 athletes in over 365 communities across Canada—a testament to Dr. Hayden’s pivotal role in its growth since its inception and for decades after. Behind every step of his journey was Marion, Dr. Hayden’s beloved late wife. Marion was not only a pillar of support but also an unwavering advocate for the athletes themselves.
Whether an athlete competing at the Special Olympics World Games or a five-year-old attending Special Olympics Active Start at a community centre, Dr. Hayden always believed “sport is the answer.” “My idea wasn’t to find the fastest runner with an intellectual disability,” he said. “It was to make them fitter and healthier, so they have the opportunity to live their potential.”
The impact of Special Olympics extends far beyond the playing field, offering opportunities in athlete leadership, health and nutrition education, building friendships and the confidence to take on any challenge – in sport and life.
Throughout his life, Dr. Frank Hayden has received numerous awards and accolades for his monumental contributions. In 2013, a secondary school in Burlington was named after him—Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School. Then in 2018, Western University honoured his legacy by establishing the endowed Frank J. Hayden Chair in Sport and Social Impact, further cementing his influence in sport and education.
In 2019, Dr. Hayden was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. In 1999, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, and in 2022, he received a promotion within the Order to Companion—the highest level a recipient can receive for Canada’s most prestigious civilian honour. Now, in a fitting tribute to his enduring impact, Dr. Hayden is being honoured with induction into Canada’s Walk of Fame, cementing his legacy as a true champion of inclusion and the transformative power of sport.
