To differenciate between platform and podium.You have the 'platform': -- which is an elevated floor, upon which a speaker stands (perhaps the floor is 2 steps up in a small auditorium; or 4-5 steps...
On a podium there are three steps for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. If you were facing the front of the podium, first place would be in the middle, second place would be on the left and third place would...