The European Olympic Committee wants to launch a new European Games, starting in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2015.
In a secret ballot at the organisation's general assembly on Saturday in Rome, 38 members voted in favour, eight against and three abstained.
The event, which will take place every four years, will include 15 Olympic sport and two non-Olympic sports which are yet to be chosen.
There has been considerable opposition to the idea of a new Games event, particularly from the European Athletics Association which has already voted against the participation of its members.
The EOC is also likely to have problems convincing other sports that already have well-established events in a packed European calendar.
Baku was the only city to offer itself as a candidate for the inaugural event, which is likely to be held in May 2015.
