Glasgow 2014: Podiums made from fallen trees

Sir Bradley Wiggins, Steven Burke, Andy Tennannt and Ed Clancey, and the Australian team on the podiums. Picture: PA

Designer Paul Hodgkiss and his team sourced the wood from fallen elm and sycamore trees from local woodland with help from Glasgow City Council’s land and environmental services.

Elm wood was used for the gold section of the podiums and sycamore for the silver and bronze sections.

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Mr Hodgkiss, who runs Paul Hodgkiss Designs on the south side of Glasgow, spent eight months creating the 96 podiums.

He said: “I am extremely honoured and proud to have been chosen to design and make the Glasgow 2014 podiums.

“It has taken over eight months from concept to finished product - and I am delighted my work is playing such an integral part of the Commonwealth Games.

“Our Glasgow timber has been threaded through each podium to capture the atmosphere and spirit of the city.”

The pieces of wood were selected for their distinctive characteristics to ensure each podium is individual, and then handcrafted into the finished product.

David Grevemberg, chief executive of Glasgow 2014, said: “Standing on the podium to receive a medal is a very special moment in any athlete’s life and marks the culmination of years of hard work and training.

“Our podiums at Glasgow 2014 are stunning and they are very much part of Glasgow, having been crafted from wood from around the city.”

Mr Hodgkiss also designed the medal trays for each ceremony and was asked to design a commemorative gift for athletes.

He made wooden quaichs (shallow two-handled drinking cups) from Glasgow elm wood which will be presented to medal winners.

After the Games are over, Glasgow Life and sportscotland will manage the future of the podiums.

Many will go to sporting stadiums, clubs and centres around Scotland while others will be auctioned on the official Glasgow 2014 auction website.